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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Monday, December 19, 2016
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ILOILO – Aside from gifts, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. yesterday gave inmates at the Iloilo District Jail (IDJ) in Barangay Nanga, Pototan town a message of hope.
“Magtuon kamo magpasensya, mag-antos. Palawiga ang iyo panghuna-huna kag tagaan sang kabakod ang inyo tagipuso-on kag konsensya,” he stressed. “Patiha ninyo ako, may paglaum sa gwa sang karsel.”
Giving gifts to and spending time with IDJ detainees have become a yearly birthday tradition for Defensor, who will turn 75 on Dec. 25.
He went on to tell the inmates about Nelson Mandela, who became president of South Africa after 27 years of detention as a political prisoner.
“Labi kag labaw sa tanan, importante gid, balik kamo sa Mahal nga Makaakô,” said Defensor. “You will find true peace kag madasig ang inyo nga pagbag-o kon magbalik kamo sa Mahal nga Makaakô.”
The governor’s tradition started during his first term in 1992.
“Maayo nga pakan-on ko ang mga tawo nga pamatyag nila ginbayaan sila sang Mahal nga Makaakô,” he said. “Kon ini sila dumdumon mo, kabalo ka magbalikid sa mga tawo nga ginatalikdan sang sosyodad.”
“Mas maayo nâ sang sa pakan-on ko ang mga manggaranon sa tyempo sang Paskwa,” he stressed.
Defensor treated the inmates with meals. And to show their gratitude, a select group of inmates performed a song number.
Prior the gift-giving, a mass was held around 9:30 a.m.
GIFT-GIVING TO STOP?
Around 2,000 inmates were currently housed in the IDJ — double last year’s population.
Because of this, the governor considers halting the gift-giving in 2017.
Half of the current IDJ inmates were transferred from Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-managed facilities in Iloilo City due to congestion.
“Wala naman ako control sa provincial jail,” said Defensor. “I can no longer prevent the BJMP from availing [itself] of provincial jail facilities. Indi na kasarang budget ko.”
“Lain na ang patakaran. Ang management, supervision, operation, and control wala na sa governor [but] with the BJMP,” he said.
But he assured continued support to the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), for which the capitol allotted P5 million for 2017.
“Madugang pa ko P10 para sa ila pagkaon. Gaayô gid ang BJMP nga sigehon lang anay ang subsidy nga P10,” said Defensor. “Sigehon ko pero athagon ko sa BJMP nga indi na ako mag-appropriate sang dugang sa [MOOE] nila.”
It was learned that capitol was also paying for the IDJ’s electricity bills.
The inmates’ food allowance and the electricity bills were under the MOOE./PN
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