Twenty inmates were married to their respective partners inside the Mandaluyong city jail on Wednesday during the ‘Kasalan sa Piitan,’ the first mass civil wedding in the country, led Mayor Benjamin Abalos Sr.
Among the 20 couples who got married in the mass wedding are three couples who were living-in before they entered jail.
Meanwhile, one male inmate got married to his 70-year-old partner.
Abalos was joined by Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos, city councilors, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology – National Capital Region (BJMP-NCR) Director Jail Chief Superintendent Clint Russel Tangeres, CESE.
According to Abalos, the ‘Kasalan sa Piitan’ is under the ‘Re-integration, Reformation Program’ of the city government and the city jail for inmates particularly those with good conduct time allowance.
The city government recognizes the right of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) to marry their partners even while serving time in jail.
City Civil Registry head Atty. Gabriel Corton said the program aims to help the inmates and their respective spouses legalize their marriage.
This helps the ease of processing the legitimacy of their children in their birth certificates.
