Puerto Princesa, Palawan – In a moving expression of faith and reflection, persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Puerto Princesa City Jail participated in the traditional Pabasa on Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2025.
BJMP Mimaropa information officer Jail Officer 3 Joefrie Anglo described the event as a heartfelt demonstration of the inmates’ spiritual resilience. “With each verse recited, the jail community reaffirms its connection to the sacred journey of Christ, making the Pabasa a vital part of BJMP’s Lenten traditions,” he said.
Anglo added that the solemnity of the chants echoed a message of healing, reminding both staff and PDLs that transformation is rooted in empathy and forgiveness.
The event is part of the BJMP’s broader efforts to integrate spiritual and moral development into its rehabilitation programs, creating space for reflection, growth, and second chances behind bars.
Jail Officer 1 Neil Factura, welfare and development officer at the facility, underscored the role of compassion in the rehabilitation process. “The true strength in our duties is not derived from authority but from embodying humility and grace,” Factura shared.
The Pabasa, a cherished Filipino Catholic tradition, involves the chanting of verses from the Pasyong Mahal—a narrative poem recounting the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For the inmates, the ritual serves as both a spiritual retreat and a reminder of redemption. (PR)
Photo courtesy of Jail Officer 3 Joefrie Anglo, IO-BJMP MIMAROPA
