Archdiocese of Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo on Sunday, Oct. 25, deplored the poor living conditions in the country’s jails.
(CBCP NEWS / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a mass for Prison Awareness Sunday in Manila, the prelate said the “inhuman” conditions in jails are both “saddening and infuriating.”
“They have no basic services, dirty, compressed, and are exploited,” Pabillo said.
“They should be rehabilitation facilities. But people there are not rehabilitated at all. There is very little program for rehabilitation,” added the prelate.
Pabillo appealed to the faithful to pay attention to those in prison, especially amid the
coronavirus disease pandemic.
“They are also our fellow human beings that we should give attention to and care for,” he said.
“They need our help. They appreciate very much even a bar of soap or toothpaste,” added Pabillo.
He said a lot of those in prison are there because they are victims of “injustice.”
“Many of them are poor and were wrongfully accused. Political prisoners are a case in point," Pabillo said.
“There are hundreds of prisoners who are there because of their political beliefs and they are victims of injustice done by law enforcers who plant evidence and make cases against them,” he added.
He cited the case of Senator Leila de Lima as an example.
“She is in detention for four years already without any conviction. Justice delayed is justice denied,” said Pabillo.