In my youth I was imprisoned twice, but thanks be to God, I have mended my broken ways and ended up a law abiding citizen. These were the very words I spoke in front of the BJMP personnel of Metro Manila District Jail and PDLs (People Deprived of Liberty) during the celebrations of Buwan ng Wika last August 28.
The jail, under their warden JSInsp Jose Maria Sabeniano, had invited Marie Osmund School and Saint Francis of Assisi College as judges during these events. China Marie, my wife, together with Dr. Arnel Palmes and Ms. Josephine Biadora had watched as jail officers and PDL’s performed on stage.
The function of jail is not for incarceration but rather for rehabilitation. While justice is being served for the victims, and the culprits found guilty serving their sentences, the system still hopes that one day, they will become tamed and productive once returned to society.
The challenge for any jail warden is how to keep this PDL’s lives not hopeless, and while hoping to be finally freed, spend their time worthwhile while inside these cages.
Being incarcerated is maybe one of the toughest experiences anyone might wish to be in. In my case, although I was brought to a youth cell jail, I was greeted with shoutings and intimidation by one of the inhabitants of that jail. But God was still good to me, my childhood friend who was also in that same jail arrived and told the guy not to do anything with me or he will be answerable to him.
The good warden, still young, a graduate of Philippines National Police Academy batch 2017, has been its warden for two years now and has been bestowed an award this year for his good performance on handling this cell.
Almost all jails have their challenges, and the only difference one will notice is how they are managed. While warden JM might still be young in his late 20’s, his training from the academy and his predecessors might have been a big help on how he effectively runs this annexed facility. Probably the education he gained from Ateneo De Manila University for his Masters in Public Management have not only earned him higher education but new insights in handling this facility.
Marie Osmund School last year started to partner with Warden JSInsp JM Sabeniano with their toys for Christmas for the children of PDL’s and Parol wherein proceeds will be provided to assist them in getting lawyers to represent them. We also joined the fun run that helps fund the operation of the PDL’s that needs immediate care.
He has also initiated finding relatives of PDL’s who have not seen their wife and children for many years. These events have been featured in news channels last year.
We are planning to extend this program this year, and the good warden has already set a date over lunch to plan for this event. He is a man who knows that time should not be wasted and acts at once.
All wardens are normally reshuffled every two years, but hopefully, he will be retained in this facility since he still has many plans that are unfinished during these last two years.
As for the PDLs I am hoping that one day they will be released after their sentence is served. But while inside these cells, they will be productive as most of them are given the needed encouragement to live life with hope. ||
