NBP inmates preparing special gift for Pope Francis

New Bilibid Prison. Monzonda / Wikipedia photo

MANILA — Although they are not certain if Pope Francis will grant their request to visit them, prisoners at the maximum security of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City are also preparing for the arrival of the Holy Father in January 2015.

According to Msgr. Bobby Olaguer, NBP chaplain, the inmates prepared a special gift for the pontiff, whether he will visit them or not inside the national penitentiary.

“Dumating man siya dito o hindi, may something silang (preso) inihahanda di ko lang alam kung painting o sculpture ni Pope Francis bilang alaala ng mga bilanggo mula sa maximum detention cell (Whether he comes here or not, the prisoners prepared something for him [Pope Francis]. I’m just not sure if it’s a painting or a sculpture of Pope Francis. It’s a souvenir from the inmates of the maximum detention cell),” he said in an interview over Radio Veritas 846.

The Catholic priest noted that the prisoners are hoping that the Vatican will send a representative to visit them so that they can give their gift or souvenir to His Holiness.

Last September, the inmates sent a letter to the Pope, thru the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and the Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippines requesting the latter to visit them during his four-day Apostolic and State Visit to the country on January 15-19, 2015.

NBP data showed there are 14,000 inmates inside the maximum security detention cell.