Former death convict appointed to prison apostolate

From CBCP News:

OZAMIZ CITY, June 3, 2008--Ozamiz Archbishop Jesus A. Dosado, CM appointed a former death convict to head the local prison ministry.

The prelate named Manuel Navoa, leader of the Mission Apostolate Workers and tasked him to do missionary work in three city jails and one provincial jail facility in Misamis Occidental province.

In an appointment letter dated June 2, 2008, Archbishop Dosado said Navoa, 52, a former maximum security compound inmate at the National Bilibid Prison and found to be innocent of the crime by the Supreme Court, has dedicated his life to the prison apostolate.

“His very life testifies to the goodness of God and is truly the powerful message of hope and encouragement to other prisoners,” the prelate said.

The prelate mandated Navoa to visit jails and schools in the archdiocese to share his moving experience with God to prisoners and the youth.

In an interview with CBCPNews, Archdiocesan Prison Ministry in-Charge Sr. Mary M. Empiedad, MSOLTC, said they requested the former death convict Navoa of Tondo, Manila to share his experiences and to give hope and encouragement for the 171 prisoners in Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-run Ozamiz City Jail, 17 of whom are women.

In a separate interview Tuesday morning at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish, Ozamiz City, Mission Apostolate Worker for Prison Welfare Manuel Navoa said when he was at the maximum security prison waiting for his appointment with the death chamber, he made a promise to God to go all over the Philippines to tell the goodness of God if the Supreme Court will confirm that he is innocent of the crime he never committed.

Navoa said at the age of 28 he was accused together with Bernardo Lim, 31 then, as prime suspects in an arson case which destroyed Cinemas I and II in Quiapo, Manila where 17 died and a hundred injured in the stampede that immediately followed on July 9, 1978.

Navoa added that he was arrested with Lim and they had been tortured and forced to confess. Though they were innocent of the crime, Judge Pedro Jimenez of the City Court found them “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” and sentenced them to death.

“I was convicted of arson by the Lower Court of Manila, sentenced to die on the electric chair and ordered to pay the theater owners P774, 550.29 and to pay the cost of the trial but more than six years later, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s decision and I was ordered released,” Navoa said.

Navoa, a former Agricultural Engineering student from Gregorio Araneta University Foundation said, “before I was very far from God—no time for Him and I had a carefree life. I fell into companions with questionable activities.”

GRACE COMES THROUGH

Navoa stayed for over three years at the Manila City Jail. “As we didn’t have enough money, I lost my case at the lower court, I was sentenced to death. After my conviction I was thrown into an isolation cell, a very small and dark cell, away from other prisoners,” he said.

It was there when he wanted to end his life but it was there where God touched him and fashioned the beginning of new life in him by sending a missionary priest who taught him to surrender his life to God.

He was transferred to the New Bilibid Prison Maximum Security Compound in Muntinglupa City where he was to spend more than three years in Death Row.

A Catholic Priest who ministered to the spiritual needs of the prisoners with Masses, Bible studies, novenas, and Life in the Spirit Seminars helped him to see what he calls “the right path.”

FORGIVENESS

Navoa said it was inside the prison cell that he learned about forgiveness. “In a religious seminar I was touched by the messages of God to forgive enemies and to love those who hate you according to our Lord Jesus Christ speaking through the Bible. It was through this that my heart was moved to write to those who had me put in prison and sentenced to the electric chair for a crime I didn’t commit. I wrote letters greeting them ‘”Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year’” telling them that the message of our Lord is to forgive them for whatever bad they’ve done to me. I assured them I will never get back at them should I be released,” Navoa added.

MISSION

At his first taste of freedom, he felt a sense of mission. He said “I could not just turn my back and forget those I left behind. There is so much pain that has to be eased”.

Navoa decided to be a living witness to God’s love and mercy especially to prisoners. He embarked on a mission of visiting prisons, jails, penal colonies and military camps.

He meets persons who share him with money for transportation as he regularly travels to places. For shelter he sometimes stays at the Bishop’s house or at the convent nearest to the prison facility he visits.

He stressed “it was brought to my mind, through my spiritual conversion that least fortunate brother and sister in prison needs love and concern. Little things mean a lot to them. Other needs are pens, writing pads, envelopes, face towels, vitamins, prayer books and religious articles.

APPEALS

The former inmate said being now a missionary in the prison apostolate, and after experiencing prison life for six years including death row, Navoa appeals to different concerned sectors of the community.

His message is simple, realize the importance of avoiding shady personalities and learn from his experience.

“I appeal to kind hearted persons to visit prisoners, to prove them that there are people thinking of them and reminding them to get connected with God, Mother Mary and the Saints,” Navoa said.

He likewise appealed to businessmen to learn to trust ex-convicts by giving them jobs and livelihood opportunities.

“The government should also consider a better compensation package for convicts found to be innocent by the Supreme Court for them to begin their lives anew,” Navoa said.

This Tuesday morning, June 3, Navoa and the workers of Archdiocesan Prison Ministry visited the inmates of Ozamiz City Jail. They will also see the prisoners at the Misamis Occidental Provincial Jail, Oroquieta and Tangub City Jails.

Aside from his testimony Navoa will distribute used clothing, rosaries, and religious articles, images of the Blessed Virgin, soaps and food commodities to the inmates.

“I understand that prison life is meant to be a punishment, but it should be reformative rather than vindictive. If prison life could be an occasion for conversion or raising the dignity of a human being, why should they not be given that opportunity?” Navoa concluded. (Wendell Talibong)