Bilibid inmates go online to honor the dead

MANILA, Philippines - The New Bilibid Prison (NBP) will implement an e-Undas scheme, which will allow inmates of the maximum security compound to pay an online visit to their dead loved ones, an official said yesterday.

Superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf, head of the NBP, said the scheme will be implemented from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.

Throught the scheme, the inmates’ relatives only have to bring a broadband dongle and a laptop to the cemetery to allow the inmates a virtual visit through Skype.

The inmates, meanwhile, will use the Apple computers inside the e-Dalaw booth. The e-Undas scheme is under the e-Dalaw program which allows the inmates to contact their relatives all over the world.

Unlike the e-Undas, the regular visitation e-Dalaw can be used for free from Monday to Sunday.

Bureau of Corrections chief Gaudencio Pangilinan told The STAR that e-Dalaw, which was implemented three weeks ago, is part of the inmates’ rehabilitation program.

Interested parties can e-mail them through [email protected], if they want to contact their relatives inside. The request is still subject to the NBP’s approval.

So far, five inmates whose relatives are in Metro Manila, have expressed willingness to make a virtual visit to the cemetery.