CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) – “True love cannot be put behind bars.” 

This was the message of Archbishop Jose Araneta Cabantan of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro in his homily during a wedding ceremony he officiated for seven pairs of inmates of the Cagayan de Oro City Jail on Feb. 19.

Nineteen other male inmates, whom the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology refers to as PDLs or Persons Deprived of Liberty were also married to their partners from outside the jail.

"Ang kaminyuon maoy pinakabililhon sa atong katilingban - ang pamilya.  Ang usa ka pamilya nga kinasal adunay dignidad nga mao kanunay ang akong gitagaan og dako nga pagtagad ug importante kaayo sa tanan kay kung wala o dili mo kinasal, dili lig-on inyong panag-uban kay walay grasya ug panalangin sa Ginoo," said Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando “Klarex" Uy.

[Marriage is the most valuable thing in our society - the family. A married family has dignity; thus, I always pay great attention to it. It is very important to everyone because if you are not married, your relationship will not be strong, especially without the grace and blessing of the Lord]

He also expressed his felicitations to the 26 pairs and told them to not lose hope, but be grateful to have inspiration for them to persevere and strive more for their betterment as they have families waiting outside. He also shared that for their marriage to work, it should center on CHRIST, which stands for commitment, humility, respect, intimacy, service, and trust.

Racial Ann, wife of a PDL, said she is very happy to finally marry her partner of more than 10 years. She shared that it is her joy to receive the blessing, more so that they already have three children, 15 years old, 6 years old and 2-month old. She also said that being a partner of PDL, she endured it “through love, loyalty and commitment.”

Chief Superintendent Cesar M. Langawin of the BJMP was also present to support the PDLs, and he said that together with partner agencies, the mass wedding is just one of many programs that their office is working on for the welfare of the PDLs.

Meanwhile, City Jail Warden Supt. William T. Manengyao thanked their partners coming from other government units and religious entities for their support of the PDLs. He also advised the newlywed PDLs to see the occasion as inspiration to do better and be better people. 

The CDOJC-MD is hosting its fourth mass wedding ceremony; the previous one took place five years ago. (IJBD/PIA-10)