BY NYARIKA DOMANAIS
ILOILO – Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Iloilo District Jail (IDJ) – Male Dormitory in Barangay Nanga, Pototan town celebrated the holiday season with their loved ones.
“Sang Christmas pareho man gihapon ang aton obrahon para sa New Year. May ginatawag kita nga Open Dalaw or Family Day nila,” said Jail Chief Inspector Denver Beltran, warden.
The Open Dalaw and Family Day were some of the programs of IDJ for the PDLs during the holiday season, which included gift-giving and religious activities.
Mass and worship activities of PDLs were held on Dec. 31. There were visiting hours, too, while the Family Day was on Jan. 1.
According to Beltran, service providers and private individuals visited the PDLs and gave donations and gifts.
Family members of PDLs can enter the facility and visit them, with or without scheduled appointments, as long as standard pandemic protocols are followed, such as being vaccinated and having valid IDs.
Unvaccinated family members can still visit but must follow the “non-contact dalaw,” which means they can talk but with a barrier between them.
The IDJ had also prepared conjugal rooms for conjugal visits.
“Ang aton nga prisuhan isa ni siya sa pinakamasubo nga lugar pag-abot nga magsaulog ka sang Christmas kag New Year. Kay ang aton nga mga PDLs layo sa ila pamilya, daw OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] ni sila bisan ari lang sila,” Beltran added.
He explained that the activities were not only for PDLs but also for duty personnel and BJMP personnel who are also far from their families this holiday season.
The BJMP is on “red alert” until Jan. 2, 2024./PN
