MANILA, Nov. 18, 2009— The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is taking its seminar on restorative justice and prison ministry to Puerto Princesa in Palawan on Nov. 24-26, 2009.

The CBCP's Episcopal Commission for Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC) considers the seminar at the Asturias Hotel the last for this year.

Rodolfo Diamante, ECPPC executive secretary, said the seminar is in cooperation with the Coalition Against Death Penalty (CADP).

Diamante added that similar seminars have been held in various areas including the archdioceses of Manila and Palo and in the diocese of San Pablo.

He said the seminar will underscore “the need to lobby for the enactment of laws that will be consonance with the gospel values.”

Palawan Bishop Pedro Arigo, chairman of ECPPC, will serve as one of the keynote speakers. He will talk on the “relative information on restorative justice and the Gospel values”.

Fr. Robert Reyes of CADP is also set to discuss the “Dignity of the Human Person” while Diamante will talk about the current criminal justice system.

The seminar will also tackle the salient features of restorative justice and UN Tokyo Rules also known as the “non-custodial treatment of persons deprived of their liberties”.

Expected participants will come from various government agencies and non-government organizations involved in working for the welfare of the members of the prison community. (Kate Laceda)