By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso on Friday underscored the importance of rehabilitation and second chances, telling parole and probation officers that his own rise from poverty to public office proves that people can transform their lives if given the opportunity.
Speaking before officials of the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) during the 1st PPA-NCR Criminal Justice Stakeholders’ Conference at The Manila Hotel, held in celebration of the agency’s 50th founding anniversary, Domagoso reflected on his humble beginnings in Tondo.
The mayor recounted growing up in an environment where many of his peers chose different paths, saying that while they shared the same circumstances, he made a conscious decision to pursue a different future.
“Ako ay napapalibutan ng mga medyo maabilidad na indibidwal na hilig tumambay sa kanto. Pare-pareho kami ng environment, umiba lang ako ng landas,” Domagoso said.
Domagoso, who once worked as a garbage collector before entering show business and later politics, said his personal journey mirrors the very principle behind the country’s parole and probation system.
“Ang parole ay nagbibigay ng pangalawang pagkakataon. Na ang isang basurero ay pwedeng maging Mayor,” he said.
The Manila chief executive emphasized that justice should not be confined to punishment alone but must also provide offenders with meaningful opportunities to reform and become productive members of society.
“Kapag pinag-uusapan ang hustisya, madalas ang unang naiisip ay parusa. Pero ang tunay na hustisya ay hindi lamang tungkol sa pagpaparusa, ito ay tungkol din sa pagbibigay ng pagkakataong magbago ang isang tao,” he said.
In a lighthearted but pointed remark, Domagoso noted that one of the country’s incumbent senators had once benefited from the parole system, saying it demonstrates that rehabilitation can open doors to public service.
“Isa sa senador natin ay nabigyan ng ganito, pwede pala maging senador. Who are we para manghusga?” he said, without identifying the lawmaker.
The mayor also shared a recent criminal case in Manila in which, he said, his familiarity with the city’s communities enabled authorities to swiftly identify and apprehend the principal suspect, while three other individuals later surrendered voluntarily.
According to Domagoso, understanding communities at the grassroots level is crucial not only in solving crimes but also in encouraging rehabilitation and reintegration.
Concluding his address, the mayor described individuals who sincerely seek to reform as valuable investments toward building safer and more peaceful communities.
“Ang tunay na nagnanais magbago ay isang mahalagang pamumuhunan para sa mas maayos at mapayapang lipunan,” he said.
During the event, the PPA presented Domagoso with a Plaque of Recognition on behalf of the City of Manila in acknowledgment of the local government’s support for the agency’s rehabilitation and reintegration programs. The mayor, in turn, pledged to further strengthen Manila City’s partnership with the PPA in advancing restorative justice initiatives.
ia/xf
