ILIGAN CITY – Six Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) – three females and three males – were married at the Iligan City Jail on Friday, June 27.
SIX PDLs were married on Friday, June 27, at the Iligan City Jail. (Bonita L. Ermac)
The ceremony was part of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Community Relations Month, said Jail Officer 2 Walter Mainit Jr., Welfare Development Unit Chief.
Ang kasal sa sulod sa piitan usa ka paagi sa among commitment sa human rights ang katungod sa pamilya, sa dignidad ug sa gugma nga walay giilang bongbong (A wedding inside a prison is our way of commitment to human rights, the right to family, dignity, and love without walls),” Mainit said.
One of the couples have been together for 19 years and have four children.
They are convinced that this is the perfect time for them to get married.
Naa gyud forever. Nalipay ko nga bisan naa mi sa sulod sa bilangguan, nakasal mi ug mas nalipay ko kay uban namo among mga anak (There is really forever. I am happy that even though we are inside the prison, we got married. And I am happier because our children are with us),” said Roy.
Jessie and Roxanne have been together for seven years and this is the second time he was imprisoned. Roxanne stood by his side despite the situation.
He promised he will never go back to his old ways as life inside prison is difficult, especially the food.
Roxanne never left me, that's why I'm sure she's the one, Jessie said.
For these PDLs, marriage is not just a ceremony but a symbol of hope, rebirth, and eternal love even behind bars.