THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in cooperation with Maharlika Sports Development Institute Inc. (MSDII) launched the 1st God's Grace Cup 2016 at the Davao City Jail (DCJ) Multi-Purpose Covered Court Wednesday morning.
DCJ warden superintendent Grace Taculin, in an interview with Sun.Star Davao, said the sportsfest will cover six sporting events including basketball, volleyball, chess, scrabble, crossword and tchoukball that will be played by 100 inmate athletes.
"We need the to develop the inmates' spirit and their enthusiam through sports, enabling them to focus in a new dimension of life since most of them were charged with drug-related cases."
Taculin also said that their partnership with MDCII aims to build a healthy and a friendly environment for the detainees.
"MSDII will assist us in teaching the inmates to create sportsmanship between each in everyone of them and foster them with good values."
She added that the event is also a preparation for the National Correctional Consciousness (NACOCO) 2016 slated next month.
The event opened with a gay contest right before Taculin's welcome remarks followed by the lighting of the torch that signifies the official opening of the sports festival.
Taculin, in her message, said: "If you behave like a guest you will be treated as a guest, but if you behave as a prisoner then you will be treated as one."
Cheif senior inspector Allan Pama and assistant warden Roberto Gotico also graced the opening rites.