Officials of the Philippine Embassy led by H.E. Ambassador Nestor Z. Ochoa conducted their annual visit of Filipino inmates detained at the Maraburong and Jerudong prisons on 13 September 2011 and 15 September 2011 respectively.

The annual prison visits coincide with the month long Hari Raya Aidul Fitri celebrations in Brunei Darussalam.

The prison visits are part of the Embassy’s sustained efforts to demonstrate the Embassy’s deep concern and support for Filipino inmates.

Ambassador Ochoa was accompanied during the prison visits by Minister and Consul Celeste Vinzon Balatbat, Minister and Consul General General Raymond R. Balatbat, Labor Attaché Anna C. Dione, Defense Attaché Emmanuel G. Cacdac, ATN officer Attaché Raul C. Villanueva, Welfare Officer Zenaida S. Ramos, SSS Representative Marivic Rutor and PAG-IBIG Representative Arlina D. Feliciano.

Embassy officials brought with them Filipino delicacies, cakes, and drinks which they shared with the Filipino inmates.

The visit also provided the Embassy delegation the opportunity to look into the needs of the Filipino inmates, to provide them with personal hygiene items, to obtain updates on the dates of their release and to convey personal messages to their families in the Philippines.

All Filipino detainees were found to be in good health and in high spirits.

During the visit to Jerudong Prison, the Sultanate’s main correctional facility, the Embassy delegation was met by prison officials led by Acting Deputy Director of Prisons, Mr. Poh Eng Hua, who provided a briefing on the prison facilities and answered queries from Embassy officials.

Before departing, Ambassador Ochoa expressed his gratitude to His Majesty’s Government, to Acting Deputy of Prisons, Poh Eng Hua, as well as to all the officers and staff of the Jerudong and Maraburong prisons for their kind and humane treatment of Filipino inmates.

There are 13 Filipino inmates - 5 male and 8 female – presently detained at the Jerudong Prison for various offenses, while the Maraburong Prison houses 2 male Filipino inmates.

H.E. Ambassador Nestor Z. Ochoa with Embassy officials at the Women’s Section of the Jerudong Prison.

Ambassador Nestor Z. Ochoa with Acting Deputy Director of Prisons, Mr. Poh Eng Hua, and officials of the Philippine Embassy and Jerudong Prison.