ILOILO CITY – Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. recently distributed Christmas gifts to 1,100 inmates at the Iloilo District Jail (IDJ) in Pototan town, Iloilo province.

ILOILO Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. distributes Christmas gift packs to inmates at the Iloilo District Jail (IDJ) in Pototan town, Iloilo province. (Iloilo Capitol PIO)
The annual gift-giving activity for IDJ inmates was started by the incumbent governor’s father, former Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., as part of his birth anniversary celebration on Christmas Day, December 25.
Defensor Jr. was assisted by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-6 Assistant Regional Director for Operations and Iloilo Provincial Administrator Jail Supt. Vicente Papelera and IDJ acting Warden Jail Chief Insp. Denver Beltran.
Aside from gift-giving, Defensor said there is a proposal to provide livelihood and skills training for the inmates at the Agriculture Research and Training (ART) adjacent to the IDJ.
Defensor revived the gift-giving activity which was halted by the pandemic. His last gift-giving was in December 2019.
The IDJ used to be under the supervision of the Iloilo Provincial Government but it was turned over to the BJMP in 2012.