A Flagship Project of
PRISONERS' ENHANCEMENT and SUPPORT ORGANIZATION Inc.
We are PRESO Inc.
Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento (Ret.)
President of the Board of Trustees of PRESO Inc.
A retired COMELEC Commissioner, he was proponent of the Detainees’ Right to Vote. He was member of the 1987 Constitutional Commission and later the GRP Panel on Peace Talks with CPP/NDF.
A law professor, a multi-awarded human rights lawyer, legal consultant to NGO’s, writer and a Catholic lay leader.
Atty. Melvin Calimag
Vice President of the Board of Trustees of PRESO Inc.
He is a journalist and lawyer. He is currently the executive editor of technology news website Newsbytes.PH and the managing partner of COC Law Office.
Raymund E. Narag
Head Consultant
Associate Professor at the School of Justice and Public Safety in Southern Illinois University. He attained his PhD degree from Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice.
Dr. Narag came to the United States as a Fulbright Scholar from the Philippines. Dr. Narag’s research interest delves on understanding community-based processes that mitigate the proliferation of crime and delinquency. This includes the notions of collective efficacy and community culture. His other research focus includes criminal victimization, youth violence, correctional administration and qualitative research particularly in cross cultural settings.
He currently implements the Community Bail Bond program in the Philippines
Antonio Moises Villasor
PRESO Consultant
A UP Professor; Master in Philosophy; Worked with task Force Detainees and Philippine Alliance on Human Rights
Atty. Erwin Zagala
PRESO Consultant
Trainer at Legal Guide Philippines, Training Manager at Danche Training and Consultancy, Inc. and Executive Director for External Affairs at Cleft Foundation
Atty. Ramil Comendador
PRESO Consultant
A former Election Officer IV of Pasay City. A former Public Attorney (PA II of Malabon City) for almost five (5) years. Now engaged in a private practice of law. A public servant.
Teresita D. Gomez
Board Secretary
and
Executive Director of PRESO Inc.
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Has had experience in
jail/prison ministry for 4 decades as Head of Prison Programs under CBCP Commission on Prisoners
Welfare and the Archdiocese of Manila (under Caritas Manila), Founding member of the Integrated Correctional Association of the Phils, Coalition Against Death Penalty and Phil Action on Youth
Offenders.
She is also Vice-President of Advocates for Children and Elders Philippines Inc.
Sr Mary Evelyn Bautista
Treasurer of PRESO Inc
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She is currently the Treasurer of Preso Inc. For 16 years she has been extending assistance and values
education sessions to female PDL of Correctional Institution and Quezon City Jail Karingal. She has been
assigned as Spirituality Formator for both seminarians and lay associates; worked as a hospital
missionary in Ghana, Africa and was also designated head of Human Resource Department, Our Lady of
Lourdes Hospital, Manila.
Rolando J. Limpo
Member
Manages his own business; Has been a prison volunteer for the past 12 years as Head of the Prison Ministry of the Santuario de San Antonio Parish in Forbes Park, Makati City. Under his leadership, several programs in at least 4 City Jails are being supported. These includes feeding program for the indigent and visitorless, provision of hygiene supplies including medical assistance to prisoners afflicted with illnesses that require continuing treatment; conduct of worship and formation activities; support of livelihood and other jail-initiated activities.
Ruben C. De Lara
Member
A microfinance specialist, he is co-founder and currently President and CEO of Serving Humanity thru Empowerment and Development-(SHED) Inc.
He was also former Executive Director, Tulay sa Pagunlad Development Inc.
Rev. Fr. Noel Gatchalian
Member
Served 40 years as a priest. Former Vice-Rector, Christ the King Seminary; has been celebrating the Eucharist at the Correctional Institution for Women and Quezon City Jail for about 5 years now.
Presently assigned as Parish Priest, Our Risen Lord Parish, Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Manila.
Rev. Fr. Efren de Guzman SVD
Member
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A missionary priest for 40 years; assigned in war-torn Angola, Africa for 20 years.
He celebrates the Eucharist almost regularly in Quezon City Jail Male and Female facilities and volunteer Chaplain in a Home for the Elderly.
Presently one of the priests serving St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Manila.
Elzy E. Ofreneo
Member
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Called by all former chairpersons of the Commission on Human Rights as a “visionary,” “mother of barangay human rights action centers (BHRAC)”, and “mother of human rights education (HRE) in the Philippines” for being the main architect and principal contributor to the institutionalization of HRE in the military, police, formal education institutions, and local government units, Director Ana Elzy Ofreneo, or Elzy, is widely recognized for her unwavering commitment to HRE, public service, integrity and anti-corruption.
With due recognition to her National HRE Program, UNESCO accorded CHR its 1994 Prize for Human Rights Teaching. She caused past Philippine presidents as commanders-in-chief to issue orders along HRE and human rights. She has been frequently invited to speak as resource person in international conferences, trainings, and forums.
She is a board member and consultant in some international organizations engaged in human rights.
Bobby De Guzman
Member
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MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Electronics & Communications Engineering graduate.
Worked as Process Engineering Manager of Analog Devices; has been an advocate of reforms in society; founding member of Community Transformation Movement
Engr. Fernando Meliton Cajigal Cala
Member
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Mechanical engineer- MIT '87 Master of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Past National President Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers Born in Lepanto Minea, Mankayan Benguet home province is Moncada , Tarlac.
Atty. Eirene Jhone E. Aguila
Member
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A strong advocate of justice and transparency in government. She graduated from Ateneo School of Law and later worked as Executive Assistant of the late DILG Sec. Robredo.
She teaches at the FEU Institute of Law and jail visits are highly encouraged. She is currently partner at Aquila Rances Law Offices.
Rhoderick M. Santos
Supervising Program Officer, CBB Program
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Derek is Supervising Program Officer of Preso Inc. He has been volunteer for both Quezon City and Manila City Jails (Male) since 2010.
He initiated the proposal that facilitated the QC LGU'S institutionalization of DepEd's Alternative Learning System (ALS) Program at QC Jail. He has served as a Consultant in several jail related initiatives such as Design Brief of the New Quezon City Jail and the Development and Implementation of the Classification, Risk Assessment and Case Management Program (CRACMP); has also served as Counselor/Facilitator for the Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad (KKDK) Counseling Program at MCJ (Male).
Madelyn N. Solito
Communications Officer
A professional writer and author. She has been featuring the lives of PRESO-assisted clients thru the FB page -Stories of Resilience, Hope and Restoration. As sister of Prof. Narag, she has, in her late teens, already been exposed to the jail environment and situations. She is also a Certified Nutritionist and Wellness Partner of the Philippine Institute on Naturopathic Sciences. She just wrote a book on natural healing and wellness.
Nita S. Mangaser
Program Field Officer
Field Officer of PRESO Inc. A Secretarial & HRM graduate, she was employed at the Dept of Public Works & Highways. She started her jail ministry in 2006.
Trained in Paralegal Field and Restorative Justice, she found her niche in paralegal assistance work and monitoring released PDL.
Solita L. Baltazar
Program Field Officer
Presently a Field Officer of PRESO Inc. As Jail Volunteer Coordinator & Catechist, Sacred Heart
Parish and the Cubao Diocesan Restorative Justice Ministry (Caritas Manila), she has been serving the Quezon City Male
and Female facilities for 15 years.
She is a Hapag Layko graduate of St Vincent’s School of Theology; has had trainings on paralegal work.