MANILA — Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David on Thursday held a special Mass for prisoners and other inmates at the Metro Manila District Jail Annex 4 (MMDJ-4) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. 

The mass was held at 9:20 a.m. at the facility formerly called the “Special Intensive Care Area 1” for “high risk and high profile” detainees, who include peace consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

According to Fides Lim, Kapatid convenor and spokesperson, the group was overjoyed with Cardinal David’s visit, his second for the year.

He first visited the facility in January 16 when he was invited by Kapatid to visit the "political prisoners".

"You are very fortunate because then Bishop Ambo opened the year with a Mass in this jail. He was still wearing a purple skullcap, and he returns today to close the year with another Mass but he is now wearing a red skullcap because he is now a Cardinal," said Gerry Bernabe, national coordinator of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care, to the gathering.

NDFP peace consultant Adelberto Silva expressed hope that Cardinal David can help improve their conditions in the facility.

"We hope that, in various ways, with your help, Cardinal David, awareness can be spread about the many serious issues facing Filipino prisoners, so that we may gather strength to push for reforms in the prison and justice systems, as well as in our continuing pursuit of a just peace in our country," Silva said.

Cardinal David, for his part, called for the release of political prisoners as a first significant step to prepare for the Jubilee Year's Pilgrimage of Hope.

He also reiterated his desire for a peaceful solution to the "longest running insurgency in the world" and for peace talks to resume.