CEBU, Philippines – After the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) dancing inmates made waves in the national and international scene, the facility once again introduced a first in the Philippine jail system-a detainees’ boxing team.
Yesterday, “Pambansang Kamao” and Saranggani Rep. Emmanuel “Pacman” Pacquiao visited the Supermax boxing team, the first and only jail-based boxing team in the Philippines.
Pacquiao watched the detainees as they presented special song and dance numbers, which were followed by an exhibition fight by the CPDRC boxers.
In an interview with the media, Pacquaio expressed how impressed he was by the jail’s boxing team, adding that the detainees now have other means of entertainment and exercise.
“Basta sports, not only boxing but other sports,”said Pacquiao when asked if he also encourages other jail facilities to come up with boxing teams.
“Kung gusto nyo mag-boxing magpakabait kayo dito para makalaya (If you want to join boxing, behave so you would soon be set free),”said Pacquiao in his message to the inmates. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:
He shared to them his experiences prior to becoming the boxer that he is now. He revealed the hardships he endured, including as well a time in jail.
The boxing champion shared words of encouragement with the detainees, saying they must look forward to a life outside the jail after serving their sentences.
Pacquiao, who is now a born-again Christian, also led the detainees in a group prayer and shared as well his beliefs.
Marco Toral, Capitol consultant on jail matters, and the founder of the boxing team, said they were happy Pacquiao accepted the invitation to be their guest to give inspiration to the detainees, particularly to those interested in boxing.
Toral said that when they launched the boxing program, more than 80 detainees showed interest to train they were forced to trim to number to around half. CPDRC now has 47 detainee-boxers under its wing.
He said the program is part of their inmate welfare development plan, by having them engage in more physical activities like boxing to fight “depression and loneliness of the inmates.”
“We are hoping that when they get out of jail, they would have a different outlook in life,” said Toral, disclosing that most of the boxers are facing serious cases like murder and rape.
He brushed off notions that it is dangerous to have a fighting team inside the jail.
“A lot of people would think that the jail is a dangerous place. But we told the boxers to take boxing as a sport and not as a tool for trouble,” he said.
Edgar Laping, an inmate for six years and one of the lead boxers of the facility, said that he is pleased with the privilege given to them to train boxing while serving time.
Laping already trained as a boxer prior to his arrest for illegal possession of firearms. He said he lost interest in boxing when he was detained but with the training they have now, he hoped to pursue it as a career when he gets out of jail.
“Mao man gyud na akong ambisyon (That has always been my ambition),” he said.
Toral said they hope to have professional fighters soon even when the CPDRC currently uses boxing facilities culled from scrap materials.
Their boxing ring, for example, used tarps for floor matting. While this is not ideal, Toral said they would just take extra precautionary measures to safeguard the boxers.?/RHM (FREEMAN)
