The following life story has been published in various magazines and publications.Manuel Navoa never doubted that what happened on August 21, 1986, when he was judged innocent after serving 7 years in prison, is really a miracle. Looking back on those last years, he cannot help but feel sorry that the best years of his life was wasted. At the same time, however, when he sees so many good things achieved on those years of bitter suffering, he can never stop giving thanks to God. It was a Bilibid Prison that he discovered God. It made him understand the meaning of all his sufferings. Manuel is now a free man. He has written his story for several magazines; he wants many to know and to share those blessings from Heaven which came amidst much physical and psychological suffering.
By Manuel Navoa
Convicted of arson by the Lower Court of Manila, I was sentenced to die by the electric chair. Six years later, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s decision and ordered my release. Being a missionary now spreading the Word of God, I would share my story.
I was very far from God before and had no time for Him. My life was a full of trouble; being with bad companions and doing evil things. I was studying then at the Gregorio Araneta University Foundation in Malabon, Metro Manila, taking up Agricultural Engineering. I had a friend who told me that he would multiply any money I gave him; late did I learn that the money that I was giving to him was being put to illegal use. One day he threatened to implicate me in a crime as well as kill all the members of my family if I did not give him 50,000 pesos. This friend, however, was a police informer.
On June 22, 1979, I was waiting for a ride to school when two plain clothes policemen suddenly handcuffed me and dragged me into a jeep. They arrested me without any warrant of arrest. I was totally confused, unaware of any crime I might have committed. Later on, I found out that I was charged with Arson with Multiple Homicide.
A year before, in 1978, the Manila Cinema 1 and 2 at the corner of C.M. Recto and Quezon Blvd was burned down. Seventeen people died and a hundred were injured. In that incident, I was pinpointed by Bernardo Lim – my police informer friend – as the one responsible for the burning of the theaters. I denied the accusation and defended myself with the fact that I was at school during the so called planning of the burning. Four of my professors voluntarily testified that I was in school during the planning of the crime but their testimony was not given credence.
I was not given a lawyer to defend my innocence and, worse, I was forced to admit the crime by the way of hardships and sufferings inflicted on me. I told the police about the threat of Bernardo Lim and the extortion he has done to me. I told them he might have committed the arson and that he had just put the blame on me. So Bernardo was also arrested and both of us were jailed. I stayed for more than three years at the Manila City Jail. My parents helped provide a lawyer to defend me but I lost the case. I was sentenced to death. I was convicted and thrown into an isolation cell, avery small and very dark cell separated from other inmates. It was at the isolation cell where I wanted to end my life, but it was there that my new life began instead.
It was at the isolation cell that my nothingness met with God’s Omnipotence. It was there where God touched me and fashioned a new life in me. He did this by sending a missionary who was instrumental in teaching me to surrender to God. It was also then that I vowed to duplicate his missionary work for the rest of my productive life.
I was transferred to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City where I spent more than three years in the Death row. A Catholic priest ministered to the spiritual needs of the prisoners through the Mass, Bible studies and Life in the Spirit seminars; he helped me find the right path. He constantly reminded me that “Man does not cease to be a child of God even in the Squalid surroundings of a prison cell.”
A few months after Corazon Aquino was installed as the 11th President of the Philippines, she temporarily abolished to the Death Penalty. I wrote letters to President Aquino to have mercy on my pitiful situation: I was in prison and sentenced to death for a crime I never committed. I know that she would understand me because her husband Ninoy was also sentenced to death and put in an isolation cell for a crime I didn’t do. I hoped that through her sympathy I would attain justice.
Soon after, the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee completed the review of my case. It ruled with finality that I was not guilty of the charges brought against in me. On August 21, 1986 I had become a free man. When the jail guard informed me of the good news that I was found innocent, my heart leapt with great joy; it was the happiest moment when I was told I would not be executed in the electric chair. But through the hands of God I was saved from a sure death and released from prison.
I felt deep sense of mission when I was set free. I could not just turn my back and forget all who were left behind; there is so much pain to be alleviated. I decided to be a living witness of God’s love and mercy especially to those who are in prison. I knew that I would give credible testimony because I was once like them. I embarked in a mission of visiting prisons, jails, penal colonies and military camps.
It was inside the prison cell that I knew the meaning of forgiveness. At one religious seminar inside the prison chapel, I was touched by God to forgive enemies and love those who hate us. It was through this that my heart was moved to write to those who had imprisoned and sentenced me to death. I wrote letters to them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I told them too that I had no intentions to seeking revenge if I ever get released from prison, I also thanked them for the benefits I received while in prisons, most especially the conversion of my life to God.
I challenge the readers of this article to forgive those who may have done wrong to them and even do good to them: God will reward you greatly as He did to me, having saved me from the electric chair. The Bible studies and religious seminars and prayers won’t be of any value if we show hate and not forgive those who have wronged us. The Lord’s Prayer says: “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.” I always share this message to the prisoners I visit and most especially to those who are victims of frame – up. I know it is very difficult for them to forgive those who have implicated them with a crime they had not done.
I can see that the sharing of my life experience has a great effect on them because I had experiencing now. That is why I often see prisoners weeping while listening to my story in my talks (…)
The other apostolate that I do now is to visit the schools all over the Philippines. In my visit I to share with them the story of my life to encourage the youngsters to stay away from bad activities, bad companions, and bad places. The students get a lot of lessons from my story: I tell that being always present in class have saved me from being executed in the electric chair. Some students do not go to school; they cut classes without the knowledge of their parents. If what happened to me happens to them also they can not saved by the testimony of their teachers. I also tell them of the terrible things that I suffered in prison so that they may fear that place and consequently avoid doing things that lead to or cause imprisonment. I also tell them of the negative consequences of being imprisoned. Being an ex-convict is not an easy life at all. It is very difficult to find a job. People are afraid to employ persons who have been imprisoned. But the most important thing at all, I tell them to repay God’s goodness to them in their life now. They don’t have to be imprisoned so that they can do what I am doing now. To repay God’s goodness with simple things, like being a good student, and sharing some of their good things with others, most especially the least fortunate and to prisoners. These simple acts are enough to please God.
Below are my appeals to the government. Religious organizations, civic organizations, heads of schools, and to all concerned on the matter of being imprisoned:
To spread awareness of the bitter reality of prison. I am very willing to talk about my life story. I may be invited to give talks in schools, institutions, and communities . I can use my life as an example to all people so that they can learn the moral lesson that I have learned.
Religious groups, civic organizations should give time to visit and cure for the prisoners and share to them what they are in most need like toothpastes, toothbrushes, laundry and bath soaps, writing papers and letter envelops to write to their loved ones, sleeping mats, medicines for the sick prisoners, biscuits, candies, noodles, face towels, used clothes, canned goods, etc. to help them sustained their hard life in prisons.
That the government construct on vacant lands not in used, houses for release prisoners who have been rejected by their families and loved ones in which they can live for which they can plant vegetables and fruit trees and raise animals for which they can sustained their life so that they will not be prone to do evil things and be back in jail again. Their should be chapel in which they can pray and attend seminars to be conducted by priests and religious people for their spiritual needs.
Civic organizations, religious groups, NGOs can give time to visit prisons and do whatever they can do for the good of our least fortunate brethren in prison. Medical missions, dental missions, seminars, and Bible studies would be of great help to prisoners. Free legal assistance is also badly needed by the prisoners who do not have means to defend their case. These things are very effective in converting the prisoners to God and to change their lives.
Those who have means and businesses ought to accept released prisoners to work for them. How can we expect them to change if we do not give them a chance to live again in society as persons of dignity? They have families to feed so they need to earn also. If we do not give them the chance to work honestly with us, they might go back to their old bad life.
The Government should give proper compensation to those who have been imprisoned for so many years but later found by the courts to be innocent. This would restore whatever they may have lost while in prison, like their job, studies, and support for their families. This would also compensate for the long years they have suffered compensation, they can also start a new life, maybe with their own small business, knowing that it will be difficult for them to get a good job with their prison background.
Additional Public Attorneys in the cities, provinces, and towns could be more available so that the least fortunate may be given justice on time. There should be also more public lawyers to assist prisoners so their sentences might be made light.
Cases should move at the exact schedule as prescribed by Law, in the Lower Courts and in the Supreme Court. My case took three years to be decided in the lower court and another three years in the Supreme Court. This is too long for an innocent man to be confined in prison within a very slow justice system.
Jail guards should not be cruel to the inmates. They should see to it that the prisoners are living in humane conditions in their cells. They should also try to facilitate communications between the prisoners and their relatives. The Government should also see to it that the living conditions of the inmates are at least habitable.
Corruption in the justice system should be mended so that justice is served not only to the rich people but most especially to the poor. Justice should be served equally and carefully because the life of every person is very important. An innocent life taken away as a penalty for a crime cannot be restored.
The government should send concerned people to visit the prisons to teach the prisoners livelihood projects like basket weaving, woodcrafts, electronics, carpentry, etc. so that they may have something to get busy with. It will help them turn away from their vices. Teachers may be sent to teach inmates who have not finished their elementary or high school education.
Please have this story be published in religious magazines, newletters, newspapers, for many to know that God loves those Suffering in Prison. I am appealing also to generous people to support my apostolate in the jails. You may send any amount that you can contribute to the mission to : Manuel Navoa (cellphone no. (63920)277-2840) c/o Bro. Carlos Oda, Deputy Executive Director, Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls, Unit A-1, Guevent Building, 52 Libertad St., Mandaluyong City, Phils. With tel. nos. (632)531-0394 / (632)531-2757 local 100. The Spiritual Director of PWHS is Fr. Jojo Zerrudo. I am the one in-charge of the Prison Ministry of PWHS.
