Comments on: The Prisoners at Iwahig Penal Colony in the Philippines

By: Dave from The Longest Way Home

Dave from The Longest Way Home — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:12:49 +0000

You just contradicted yourself. If you know they are there, then they are there!

In either case you can try contacting the following government departments for further information that might help you:

Department of Justice Action Center (DOJAC) Main Office
Ground Floor, Multi-Purpose Bldg., Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila

Telephone: (+632) 521 2930
(+632) 523 8481 local 403
Email: dojac @ doj.gov.ph

Bureau of Corrections
NBP Reservation, Muntinlupa City
Philippines, 1777

Telephone: +632 850-50-02
Telephone: +632 807-23-68
Website: bucor.gov.ph

By: sandra

sandra — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:54:51 +0000

i have a frends at the ihawig..how i know if my frends name is in their?

By: The Longest Way Home

The Longest Way Home — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:25:19 +0000

I would say there are dangerous prisoner there. However, I did not feel any danger there. They guard themselves, and in the dangerous are there are guards.

By: rica_martija

rica_martija — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:47:23 +0000

are the prisoners are harmless??because my papa is a prison at the iwahig too..and im planning to visit him there but im afraid of the other prisons …..

By: The Longest Way Home

The Longest Way Home — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 06:04:02 +0000

It’s not against human violations. I believe the inmates set their own rules, and have decided that they do not wish to have their images on public display. As such one should respect their wishes. Ask permission first is key, and tell them what you intend to do with the photograph.

Iwahig was off the beaten path when I visited it. I know of “package” tours going there, this I think will ultimately ruin the place unless brought under some non-profit guidelines.

By: iya

iya — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 05:03:34 +0000

we had a tour there last oct, our guides told us that its forbidden to take pictures of the inmates, against human violations or somthing

By: The Longest Way Home

The Longest Way Home — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 10:12:10 +0000

Oh wow. Such a shame about the photos. There’s huge issues with people posting other people’s faces on Facbook without asking permission. I imagine it’s one of those things that the higher up’s in the Penal colony would not be happy to see.

I would take the opposite approach and use what’s happening in Iwahig as a huge plus to the Philippines! There’s very, very few places like it on earth. Why it’s not promoted more I don’t know. It’s a must see, and the reasoning behind it is so interesting. If the Tourism board actually got off their sad face attitude and promoted this the right way, not only would Iwahig benefit, also the prisoners, and the world’s perception about the Philippines.

Very glad you got to explore it, and let me know when your post is up!

By: Chichi

Chichi — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:58:37 +0000

I just came back from my Palawan trip and got the chance to visit this bizaare place as well. I didn’t even knew such place existed in my country! Got to talk to a number of prisoners about how things are set-up here…until they started selling keychains and shirts (1 for 100?!). No pictures though, they shared to me that some inmates got into trouble bec their photos showed up on Facebook. They’re now in the maximum security blocks, poor thing.

I agree, this is place is a definite must-see. I’ll do a post on Ihawig soon.

By: The Longest Way Home

The Longest Way Home — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:45:34 +0000

-tim- If someone is imprisoned here, their whole families are allowed to live with them in the prison grounds.

By: tim

tim — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:34:39 +0000

are the visitors allowed to sleep within the prison limits? like if a particular relative visits his imprisoned relative there, is he allowed to sleep along side him?

By: The Longest Way Home

The Longest Way Home — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:19:15 +0000

Hi, It’s very different alright. Well worth going to!

By: Damien

Damien — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:49:55 +0000

I’ve never seen a place like this before. It seems totally incredible!

Thanks for telling the world about it, amazing blog by the way!!!