\"I was in prison, and you visited me.\"

This scriptural passage may have served as motivation for seven faculty members, one staff, and two students who underwent hands-on training on jail monitoring conducted by the Commission on Human Rights Regional Office 1 (CHR-1) this summer.Last month, a jail partner seminar was conducted by a team led by lawyer Anita Chauhan, director of CHR-1. Presenting the sorry scenario on most prisons in the country today, she stressed the imperative of meeting the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners which was adopted by the United Nations in 1955.

Among the areas being monitored are personal hygiene, clothing and bedding, food, exercise and sport, medical services, discipline and punishment, contact with the outside world, and the practice of religion.

On May 20, the actual jail visit took place at the Batac District Jail (BDJ), which serves towns in the second district of Ilocos Norte. The facilty has three cramped cells each accommodating 30 prisoners who are either criminal suspects or convicted felons serving sentences six years and below. BDJ is under the supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Dr. Violeta B. Alonzo, Estrelita Domingo, Ciriaco T. Ragual, Herdy L. Yumul, Maria Angelica O. Salas, Elizabeth Marfel F. Gagni, Dyrma I. Sabas—faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences—were joined in the training by Bella Gervacio of the Extension Directorate and by Olive Saludares and Gerlita Sanchez, both sociology majors. Ernesto Dongael, jail monitoring officer of CHR-1, facilitated the activity.

As jail partners, the 10 volunteers from MMSU shall be given official access to prisons here in Ilocos Norte to monitor the condition of prisoners and submit reports to the regional office.

In addition, the Extension Directorate is also set to conduct livelihood training-workshops for the inmates, many of whom are skilfull in paper handicraft.

Batac District Jail, located at Brgy. Bil-loca in Batac town, is under the supervision of Sr. Insp. Herminigildo Rivera, who belongs to MMSU nursing class 1994. (See related story on page 2.)

In December last year, CHR chairman Leila de Lima recognized the MMSU-based Ilocos Norte Center for Human Rights Education as best in Region 1. Dr. Marivic Alimbuyuguen was also cited as most outstanding coordinator in the region.