Inside the Iligan City Jail-Male Dormitory, elderly PDL listened as officers explained their rights under the Nelson Mandela Rules. For many, it was a rare moment of affirmation—that even in detention, their humanity is recognized. This quiet exchange captured the spirit of the facility’s commemoration of National Human Rights Week, held from December 4 to 10, 2025, with the theme: “Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials.”
The celebration carried a powerful campaign call: “Second chances are human rights in action.” While second chances are not written as a separate article in law, the principles behind them—rehabilitation, dignity, and self-determination—are recognized globally. Yet PDL often face discrimination both inside and outside detention and prison walls. They are tagged as “hardened criminals” during incarceration, and beyond it, they are denied opportunities that others enjoy—jobs, education, and community acceptance. This exclusion is another form of punishment, one that undermines the very essence of human rights as everyday essentials.
Throughout the week, activities reinforced the message that rights must be lived daily, not only spoken of. PDL and personnel joined awareness sessions on humane treatment standards, while the Public Attorney’s Office provided legal consultations on December 9. On December 10, law students from MSU-IIT’s Sarimanok organization conducted a case clinic, offering guidance to those navigating the justice system. The week culminated in a Human Rights Caravan sponsored by the LGU of Iligan City, which brought medical, legal, and basic services directly to the PDL—an act that underscored the principle that deprivation of liberty must never mean deprivation of humanity.
City Jail Warden JCINSP Carmelo A Corsame emphasized the campaign’s heart: “Every person counts, even behind bars. Our role is not only to secure but to nurture, to ensure that PDL are treated with dignity and given the tools to reintegrate into society. We ask the community to stand with us in breaking the walls of discrimination and in building bridges of compassion and second chances.”
The BJMP–Iligan City Jail-Male Dormitory calls on the wider community to support its welfare and development programs, recognizing that human rights are everyday essentials, and second chances are the living proof of those rights at work. By dismantling stigma and embracing rehabilitation, society invests in healing, safety, and stronger futures for all.
