WHILE most of the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are counting fast the days inside detention cells, there are some who don’t mind staying longer or even wishing to be there for good.

The reason? They have nowhere to go, no relatives to welcome them, nor would they find a job.

According to Bureau of Jail Management and Penology – National Capital Region (BJMP-NCR) director Chief Supt. Clint Russel Tangeres, this is why jail wardens are directed to make sure that the reintegration programs are religiously implemented, well-taught and understood to help PDLs on their way to freedom.

He said that the BJMP’s Behavioral and Modification program coupled with the implementation of the Therapeutic Community Modality (TCM) approach are two instruments that help PDLs get back their confidence to reintegrate and mingle with the public socially without fear of discrimination.

The TCM program manages to modify the behaviors of PDLs by positively changing their thinking and behavior through structured group processes.

There are also livelihood programs, educational and vocational training, recreation and sports and religious/ spiritual activities that contribute a lot to building the needed confidence upon themselves.

PDLs who wanted to cut short their stay in detention can also do it by simply earning positive points through his/her demeanor that will be deducted in his/her prison record under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA).

But in some instances, Tangeres said jailbirds would rather stay inside.

“May mga ibang PDLs na ayaw nang lumabas. . .lalong lalo na yung mga walang wala at tsaka palaboy, pagka nakulong na sila at nagka-meron na silang diskarte sa loob. .,” the BJMP official told this writer over a cup of coffee.

Tangeres recalled the time when he was still a warden: “Meron yan sa Manila noon, magaling magmasahe, nagtitinda-tinda, kumikita sa loob, pag sya ay lumaya, magsa-shoplift lang. . . chocolate, shampoo, yun balik na naman.”

Even the female PDLs also had their share of experiences.

Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos noted the importance of the reintegration program which is to focus on reducing the numbers of the so-called “repeat offender”s.

He cited figures wherein the 70 percent of those detained under BJMP facilities are drug-related but 30 percent of them most likely return to jail because they couldn’t find decent jobs due to their records.

Instead, they find themselves back to their old ways and again to incarceration thus contributing anew to the congestion woes.

It has been the reality where the so-called “ex-inmates” find it very hard to be productive because of their past and this is where according to Abalos the government should step in.