ILOILO Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. encouraged on Sunday, December 16, the inmates that there is still a second chance for them outside the prison.
Defensor spent his last birthday as a governor at the Iloilo District Jail (IDJ) on Sunday through a gift-giving activity, a tradition that he has been practicing for 18 years. He will be turning 77 on December 25.
The activity commenced with a holy mass followed by the ceremonial gift-giving. More than 2,000 inmates received a gift pack containing bread and bath essentials.
“Arthur Defensor Sr. is one of those who believe that there is still hope for you, as long as you practice reform and follow the prison rules,” he said.
Defensor also advised them to become law-abiding citizens and lead purposeful lives when they are released.
“I have dreamed that one day there will be no more prisoners. And when that time comes, this society will be perfect and jail personnel will have to look for other jobs,” he said.
The governor said he chose to spend his Christmas in the jail as the PDLs are being abandoned by the society and that they also deserve care and attention.
In return, the PDLs gifted the governor with a wooden coffee table that they made.
IDJ warden Superintendent Vincent Papelera expressed his gratitude to the provincial government for giving importance to the facility.
Papelera recalled that when he was still the warden of the district jail in Ungka, Iloilo City, the facility was hounded with problems of decongestion.
But in 2016, Governor Defensor approved the transfer of several inmates to the provincial jail to decongest the Ungka facility.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Western Visayas regional director Senior Superintendent Joel Superficial said Defensor is the only governor who gives priority to the inmates. (PR)