Iloilo City press corps brings joy to women inmates
Seventy-five women inmates at the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) withholding center for women inmates received a Christmas gift from members of the Iloilo City Hall Press Corps (ICHPC).
ICHPC president Bert Ladera of RMN 774 said the gift giving and Christmas party held at the withholding center on Dec. 12 was on its ninth year as an institutionalized yearly activity of practicing mediamen at the city hall beat.
Some of the inmates are suffering from the stigma of social unacceptability and have no visitors throughout the year.
Ladera said the mediamen’s Christmas cheers to them was one way of showing that mainstream society was concerned and still cared for them to return to the folds of law.
Donors of this year Christmas party are SM City Iloilo, city mayor Jerry P. Treñas, Senator Manny Villar, vice mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, city councilors Jamjam Baronda and Nielex Tupas, city treasurer Katherine Tingzon, lawyer Joshua Alim and US-based former ICHPC member Ryan Espulgar.
The youngest of the women inmates are two 19 years old, who were accused of violating RA 9165, or the Dangerous Drugs Act, and the oldest is 57 years old, also for violation of RA 9165.
Most are incarcerated for violations of the anti-illegal drugs law, 13 inmates for theft, two for estafa and illegal recruitment, two for estafa, one for direct assault and one for homicide. (PNA)
