Women inmates visit husbands at NBP on Christmas Eve

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 24) — It was an emotional Christmas Eve for around 35 inmates from the Correctional Institution for Women and their husbands incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) allowed them to be reunited at the national penitentiary in the spirit of Christmas. Some of them had not seen each other for years.

"Patakaran na hindi sila pwede magkita parati. Itong okasyon na ito binigyan natin na magkita kita sila…May mga puso't damdamin rin 'yang mga yan, bayaan na natin Pasko naman," BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. said.

[Translation: We really do not allow frequent visits. But on this occasion we let them see each other…They have feelings too. It's Christmas anyway.]

Catapang said the couples will be allowed to see each other until Jan. 1, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

BuCor has also allowed relatives of the inmates to visit them on Christmas Day.

CNN Philippines correspondent Crissy Dimatulac contributed to this report.