Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Cainta Municipal Jail (CMJ), a detention facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), are given the privilege to see and talk to their loved ones during the Christmas season.
Behind the glass wall with iron grills, the PDLs can have a few minutes of moment with their visitors during the so-called No-Contact Visitation (NCV).
The PDLs, however, are not allowed physical contact with the visitors as the face-to-face and conjugal visits remain suspended for CMJ.
Jail Inspector Roderick Sibuna, BJMP Cainta deputy warden, told Manila Bulletin that at least 75 PDLs were lucky enough to have been given the privilege to be visited by their respective loved ones on Dec. 25 alone.
Sibuna said NCV, which allows the PDLs to have a 10 to 15 minutes of moment with visitors, has long been the policy at the BJMP facility in Cainta since the pandemic restrictions were imposed.
Prior to the pandemic, visitors were allowed to meet and talk to the PDLs face-to-face.
But before the visitor is allowed to see the PDL, he or she must have registered with the BJMP Cainta and wait for the clearance from authorities a day prior to the intended date of visit.
There are 572 male and 92 female PDLS at the BJMP Cainta.
At present, NCV is done every Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and only a few visitors per day are allowed.
Subina said the visitation hours may be extended up to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Day for humanitarian consideration to give PDLs more chance to spend the special occasion with their visitors.
Simbang Gabi masses were held at the CMJ at 9 a.m. as part of the Christmas season activities at the BJMP facility.
Sibuna said the PDLs also earned some cash through the Christmas lanterns and souvenir items that they made and sold by BJMP personnel at bazaars in malls.