Reintegration can be understood as the action or process to bring someone back into the community. In HLAF’s case, persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) cases are tackled, especially on how collective community action help in the process.
Unsuccessful reintegration and recidivism have been alarming since it suggests that the social community does not contribute enough collective action and joint effort in helping PDLs after their release.
Social stigma has always been an everyday struggle for PDLs. Research in sociology and psychology shows that stigma affects individual behavior through complex interactions among institutional barriers (structural factors), stereotypes and discrimination from community members (social factors), and individual responses to these factors (self factors) (Link and Phelan 2001).
In Malabon City, HLAF, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and local government agencies have started their activities to create a core group that will identify programs and activities to help contribute to the successful reintegration of former PDLs, decrease reoffending and recidivism, and raise awareness to PDLs about the steps they can do after their release.
Local government agencies such as the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), City Social Welfare and Development Department (CSWDD), City of Malabon Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CMADAO), Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) Federation, and NGO Restorative Justice Ministry Malabon comprise the core group that will serve as representatives to create the first reintegration model in the Philippines.
During the activity, Peter Olea, HLAF Community Organizer from the HLAF Focused Reintegration of Ex-Detainees (FRED) program told participants that “there are reintegration and aftercare programs and activities in the Philippines but they are not comprehensive, they are only given directly by organizations or groups to PDLs asking for it, have knowledge about it, or direct beneficiaries”.
While reintegration and aftercare programs are already present, reintegration must always be around and ready, even if former PDLs are not asking for it, Olea shared.
Olea told participants to write and discuss the interventions, programs, and activities that PDLs should be able to avail themselves of. These interventions are divided into factors such as: Needs (Pangangailangan), Change they want to see (Pagbabagong nais makita), Program (Programa), Implementing Agencies (Tanggapan na makakasama sa pagpapatupad), Basis/Mode of Measurement (Batayang sukatan), and Target (target).
Participants told that the most common needs of PDLs and former ones are food, water, shelter, clothes, access to health, nutrition, dental services, counseling, and spiritual programs. While some told that PDLs lack skills, livelihood, and financial trainings and seminars to help them inside and outside the jail.
JCINSP Lourvina Abrazado, Malabon City Jail female dormitory Warden, told that most PDLs do not know the programs and services being provided by the local government agencies, especially during the pandemic, when limited visits and conduct of activities were allowed.
Abrazado shared that medical and dental services were also limited due to the lack of visits and activities to regularly check PDL and former PDL’s welfare since the lockdown.
Luziel Gutierrez of the Public Employment Service Office told that they should not let PDLs and former ones feel that they are useless and unhopeful. “Hindi dapat nila (PDLs and former ones) nararamdaman na may kakulangan sa kanila at the moment.
JSINP Joey Doguiles, Malabon City Jail male dormitory Warden, told that the community plays a huge role in the successful reintegration of PDLs, especially their families, and key local government units. “Gusto natin makita na natutugunan ang kanilang karapatan ang kapakanan sa loob at labas ng bilangguan sa pamamagitan ng additional funds for their needs, providing them effective programs”.
Doguiles added that PDLs are only allotted P70.00 worth of meals daily. “We need to partner with a lot of government and non-government agencies for them to provide for our facilities, mahirap talaga lalo sa aming mga jails to budget it daily, lalo’t mataas na ang presyo ng mga bilihin”.
Naomi Valdrez, Restorative Justice Ministry Malabon representative told that they are still providing hygiene kits and food packs to jails.
Moreover, Aiyln Nabi, City Social Welfare and Development Department officer-in-charge suggested that their pool of interventions should be self-sustaining for PDLs themselves. “Sana yung mga pdls self sustaining pag labas sa pamamagitan ng mga programa na ihahain natin sa atin organizations”.
Meanwhile, City of Malabon Anti-Drug Abuse Office representative Vrix Sarmiento told programs that their office can provide psychosocial and spiritual counseling, provide family-strengthening modules, and drug prevention activities.
The Public Employment Service Office told that the underlying cause based on the activity’s assessment is unemployment. “Maganda yung naisip ng HLAF na new aftercare program, one of our assessments talaga kung bakit nakakagawa ng kasalanan ang isang tao is because wala silang trabaho, our role is really huge para sa kanila. Kung tuloy tuloy ang learning activities para sa mga pdls marerealize nila na hindi ko naman pala kailangan gawin yun. Livelihood programs ang nakikitang pwedeng makita ng peso”.
While the number of target PDL beneficiaries is 100% for the programs, especially the livelihood, Doguiles told that it still is not achievable because PDLs still undergo screening processes. “May screening sa PDL sa paginvolve nila sa livelihood programs, di talaga natin pwede matarget yung 100%. May classifications sa crime involvement nila kahit gusto natin silang isali”.
Ramoncito Arlegui, Malabon Barangay Council for the Protection of Children Federation president hopes that jails can also provide them data on the number of releases so that they can also assess or evaluate what best caters to their lifestyle.
Participants agreed that PDLs are having a hard time when applying for a job because of the unending stigma given to them by the community, their families, and themselves.
Doguiles suggested LGUs should provide starter kits to empower them while being reintegrated back into the community. “Sana mailagay natin ito sa ating mga plano, after the PDL’s release. Hindi lang yung magprovide tayo habang nasa loob sila, pero sana pati narin sa paglabas”.
After the sharing of their available and planned pool of interventions, both Doguiles and Abrazado proposed to launch Project 2nd chance #Malabon Ahon, in partnership with the present partner stakeholders in the activity including the Philippine National Police, Malabon Regional Trial Court, the Department of Local and Interior Government, and NGOs such as HLAF.
Abrazado told during the future launching of the activity, that a Memorandum of Agreement between all parties be signed including but not limited to the access of partner stakeholders on jail data so that they can promote or plan proposals and activities for PDLs as a group, bringing collective action. “Sana pati sa future launching, makapag-ready rin ang partners natin sa orientation of their activities and programs for PDLs to raise awareness”.
Participants agreed to the initiative where they will also get to physically visit both Malabon City Jail male and female dorms.
The Public Employment Service Office told that they are ready and willing to give appropriate programs and activities for PDLs. “Kami naman ay handang magbigay ng nararapat na programs para sa mga PDLs. Handa kami magbigay ng support to jails and PDLs, hindi lang din naman kami nakafocus sa walk in applicants, pero kailangan din namin makita yung mga sectors na nangangailangan ng tulong. Bigyan nyo lang kami ng text or call. Sa launching pa lang natin maiidentify yung programs para sa kanila”.
Malabon City Jail male dorm Warden Doguiles shared that he was hoping for this activity to happen already in the past. “Naghahangad ako ng proyekto na ganito, para mabigyan yung mga pdl ng opportunities. Isa sa mga need natin ipriority ay ang mga least, lost, at last. Isa sa mga problema talaga natin sa society, is to ensure public safety. Ang naobserbahan ko sa sarili ko, bibigyan ba ng pag asa yan, may narelease lang kami last week bumalik na naman. Unemployment yung pinaka kailangan na matugunan. Thank you HLAF para dito sa mga programa na ito. Through this, nakikita ko na ang pag asenso ng Malabon, simulan natn sa kulungan muna”.
The City of Malabon Anti-Drug Abuse Office told that it is its duty to serve PDLs. “Part of the duty of the CMADAO is to provide services for the poor, especially those who have none”.
Restorative Justice Ministry Malabon expressed her warmest gratitude that their organization was also invited and part of the reintegration committee for PDLs. “Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa inyo, nagpapasalamat rin ako na nakilala ko rin kayo”.
The City Social Welfare and Development Department shared that they have to uplift PDLs lives. “Goal namin is iuplift the lives of many. Wag tayong mapagod wag magsawa, marami pa tayong tao na matutulungan”.
In sum, these collective efforts of various offices create serious implications that would affect the successful reintegration of PDLs and former ones. For some, PDLs should rot lifelong in jails, but for HLAF and this group, they belong and are still part of the social community, even inside the jail.
