Imprisoned lolas

ABS-CBN correspondent Abner Mercado strikes you as a very solid, huge person, physically speaking. It is his heart for the needy, however, that makes him stand out even more.

Those of you who watched this week's The Correspondents will understand what we are saying about Abner. He is not a personal friend yet once he approaches you, he assures you that he is your friend, one you can share and entrust your joys and pains with, any time.

No, we have not met him personally. It was his segment about the lolas in jail that introduced Abner to us (husband Orly and me) and to the rest of the tv viewers that night. It was his depiction of the sorry plight of the lolas in jail that made us realize Abner was accepted as a genuine, concerned friend by the imprisoned lolas and their families.

Abner visited and interviewed the lolos and lolas in jail. His presentation about the imprisoned lolas seemed to have been a continuation, a follow-up of an earlier aired documentation of the plight of the elderly in jail. One result of that earlier tv documentary was the GMA pardon and release of a number of lolos or elderly prisoners.

This week's segment was intended to, once again, touch hearts successfully so that the imprisoned lolas will be pardoned and released to be reunited with their loved ones. His presentation was visually effective and poignant. We wonder how many viewers were brought to tears upon seeing elderly female prisoners who have lost their youth, their sight, even their lives within their cold, constricted cells.

Among those who have waited and have continued to wait for their pardon and release were those jailed for having been caught with marijuana, using and/or trading them when they were so much younger. One imprisoned lola was caught selling a P10-worth of marijuana. For that, she was jailed and with her imprisonment, she lost her youth, her whole family, her lifetime.

We cried for her and for similar elderly lola inmates, who, for so little, lost so much, their freedom, their future, their family, their lifetime. We also cried out against this unjust system that allows those who steal more and cause the deaths of people and principles to remain free. We cried out against a system that does not check and review cases of erroneous imprisonment or jail verdicts.

One elderly lola inmate cried her heart out to Abner and talked of her lifelong dream to be reunited with her favorite sister even for a short moment, before she would pass on to the next life. This particular lola must have already felt and known that her time inside her cell and in this world was running short. Abner, like an angel, decided to look for this lola's sister and found her, in Mindanao was it, flew her in a plane (her first ride ever) and into her sister's arms and embrace inside the prison. How both of them, both already advanced in years, held on tightly to each other as they cried after having been separated by prison, power, and poverty, since their youth!

A week after her sister's visit, that lola inmate died. Finally, she was released to be reunited with the rest of her family. Alas, she went back to them in a box. Sadly, her dream of release and freedom to be with her family was not fulfilled in her lifetime. Definitely though, she has regained eternal freedom from this unjust society and world. How many more of these elderly inmates need to suffer more years inside their prison cells? In their advanced age, would it not be more humane to have them restored back to their families before their death or before any further deterioration on their part?

Going beyond the call of his profession, ABS-CBN correspondent Arnel promised all the rest of the imprisoned lolas that he will carry on their quest for freedom. Your prayers and assistance (through visitations or letters to them) will certainly make each day lighter for every imprisoned lola who dreams of pardon and freedom. May the imprisoned lolas live to see that most-awaited day of their release and reunion with their loved ones.