Social networks eyed in Baguio jail ‘e-dalaw’

INMATES of the Baguio City Jail undergo group therapy sessions where words of wisdom, like this inscription on a board at the jail courtyard, are shared. VINCENT CABREZA/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

BAGUIO CITY—The saddest place to find oneself is the Baguio City jail on a cold, lonely Christmas Eve.

So prison officials and a group of inmates are piloting in November a foster parenting program for detainees, who have had little or no visits from relatives or friends throughout their detention.

George de la Cruz, who is detained for an illegal recruitment case, received the blessings of jail officials to seek out families who are willing to spend time with inmates each weekend starting next month.

Key to the project are finding families who would visit convicts or crime suspects undergoing trial, he said.

“Convincing families to come here is the more difficult part of our initiative,” said De la Cruz, 47, who is recognized here as a leader.

Skype solution

He said inmates have also been soliciting six to eight computers and access to the Internet, to implement a companion project they call “e-dalaw” or electronic visits.

“Many inmates find it difficult to contact family members by telephone, so social networking could help. They could talk over Skype, for example,” he said.

Ramon Dacawi, the city’s public information officer and a prison volunteer, said at least 30 inmates will benefit from these projects.

These are people, between 20 and 30 years old, who experienced being detained for the first time and who may have not spoken to family members or friends about their legal troubles, De la Cruz said.

“Some of these inmates keep to themselves in their cells [which are occupied by up to 15 others]. They don’t talk much. They don’t socialize,” he said.

The city jail houses 517 inmates, both male and female, records showed.

Crime season

“That number grows during the Christmas holidays, from December to February, when arrests for theft cases rise. We have inmates who are frequently detained here. Some are here for illegal drugs cases and a few for murder. They are detained here as they stand trial,” De la Cruz said.

“Many are here awaiting the conclusion of their trials. Some believe they are innocent. The loneliness alone would make them bitter and we don’t want that,” he said.

Religious organizations send psychologists to counsel the inmates, many of whom have become members of group therapy sessions, but there are inmates who refuse to share their thoughts, he said.

“They may, however, soften when they are visited by friendly faces every week,” he said.

Dacawi said the foster parenting program is similar to the program benefiting Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets.

PMA allows cadets to spend time with their foster families during weekends. These foster parents, however, undergo extensive vetting and background checks. Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon