Ex-PC officer says: Don't call prisoners inmates

PENALTY. A retired officer of the now defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC) said he did not approve of the government’s calling the prisoners inmates, and bilibid prisons rehabilitation centers. “We are pampering the prisoners,” he said, adding: “Those imprisoned should be called prisoners, not inmates.” He said the prisoners should be made to understand that they have wronged society and they do not deserve to be pampered.

SO WHAT? Reminded that his idea runs counter to the intention of the government to be humane to the inmates, this former PC officer said: “If my point of view is against that of the government and human rights advocates, so what?” He added that, “We must call a spade, a spade, and a prisoner, a prisoner.”