98 ZAMBO CITY PDLS FINISH ISLAMIC EDUCATION WHILE IN DETENTION

A TOTAL of 98 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs)  composed of 66 males and 32 females of the Madrasah Al-Irtiqa’e at the Zamboanga City Jail (ZCJ) on Monday marched together during the  graduation rites after completing the Tahderiyyah program on Islamic education.

National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Sabuddin Abdurahim was the guest of honor and speaker in the event.

Abdurahim praised the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) leadership for its peace-building efforts through the implementation of a faith-based approach in every PDL’s reformation process.

The occasion marks a significant step in the continuous enhancement of education and values formation components of the PDLs welfare and development programs in the facility.

“We are grateful to the leadership of Zamboanga City Jail for fostering personal growth and spiritual development in our Muslim brothers and sisters,”  Abdurahim said.

A total of 172 PDL students at the Zamboanga City Jail graduated from the Tahderiyyah program .

“The Commission is pleased to note the various programs and services of the jail unit to ensure the welfare of the PDL, promoting their rights as human beings, particularly their right to free exercise of religion,” Abdurahim said.

BJMP chief Director Ruel Rivera appreciated the NCMF’s continuous support to the Bureau.

Rivera also emphasized the value of inter-agency collaborations to the reformation process of PDLs.

“Together with our service providers and other partners, we remain focused on providing a holistic program for the PDLs to guide them on their eventual reintegration into the community,” the Jail Director stressed.

The 34% increase in the number of graduates, he added, have demonstrated the government’s strong commitment to engaging PDL in more programs that are really impactful to them.

The Madrasah Al-Irtiqa’e was started in 2023 by Zamboanga City Jail Male Dormitory warden Supt. Xavier Solda which aims to promote the right to education and religious freedom of Muslim PDLs.

The program was launched in partnership with NCMF Region-IX, under the leadership of Dr. Zulfikar Abantas.