NOT that I condone any crimes that inmates allegedly did. But that is up to our courts to determine their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. As a court-annexed mediator, it’s not my job to pass judgment on their sins to God and to society.
Having interacted with many of the detainees as a court-annexed mediator, I have a soft heart for those behind bars. In many of my cases, they are in jail because they cannot afford to post bail. I think of their cases as essentially the crime of poverty.
Because if we come to think of it, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 granted Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan, a suspect in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, temporary liberty after posting bail two of P200,000 per murder count, or P11.6 million for the 58 counts.
Or that the Supreme Court deemed it fit to grant Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile his temporary freedom, arguing that even non-bailable charges in offenses punishable by death, life imprisonment or reclusion perpetua, is subject to judicial discretion. Now Enrile is out after posting a bail bond of P1 million.
For many of those who are confined at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Bacolod City Police Office compound, they are behind bars because they’re unable to post a measly bail bond worth, say, P10,000 or perhaps even less.
So the last week of 2015, I visited the inmates detained at the BJMP-BCPO not as an officer of the court but as a Christian volunteer. “I was in prison and you came to visit me,” said Matthew 25:36. I joined volunteer from the Light of Jesus Family, Prayer and Light Workshop, He Cares Foundation, and Legion of Mary to visit to express our Christian love for those accused of erring on the wrong side of the law.
Many of the volunteers, yuppies who used their Thank God It’s Saturday “gimik” to pack Christmas gifts for Sunday’s “Prison Break,” a break from the humdrum daily existence inside the jail.
Before the start, Darlyl Tamon and Kimee Santiago of the LoJ briefed the volunteers to act like Jesus Christ in meeting those behind bars. We know from Scriptures that Jesus broke bread with the hated tax collectors, prostituted women, thieves, spent time with them, or shared a friendly meal with them.
I had fun interacting with my fellow volunteers and the inmates. My role in the food distribution was to hug each inmate while expressing that God loves them even while pointing them to soak their hands in the wash basin. What a wonderful way to express that love, to welcome strangers, and treat them as brothers.
For many volunteers, this was one of the best Christmas parties they ever experienced. I heard no one complaining or uttering cuss words despite the crowded prison plaza or the heat or delay in bringing in the food.
The day’s events was a beautiful showcase of cooperation and care of strangers. I was tired, so too the other volunteers, yet most if not all remained in high spirits when the event was over. How much better our society would be if these Christian organizations can bring in thousands more to volunteer to be with the least of their brethren. As the Bible says, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” (bqsanc@yahoo.com)