81-Year-Old Man Jailed Due to Having the Same Name as a Wanted Person
An 81-year-old man from Olongapo was arrested and jailed after being mistaken for someone else, just because they share the same name.
Recently, Danico Ramos, a Facebook user, shared photos of an elderly man who was jailed for sharing a same name with a wanted person. The only real difference in their names was a “Jr.” at the end. The post garnered various reactions from netizens.
The elderly man, identified as Prudencio Calubid Jr., was taken into custody last December. He didn’t resist arrest and went with the officers peacefully, bringing with him a bag full of personal documents including his birth certificate, marriage contract, barangay ID, and even photos. He hoped these would prove his identity and clear up the mistake.
Unfortunately, no one listened. Despite all the documents and his willingness to cooperate, he ended up behind bars. The authorities were looking for a man named Prudencio Calubid Sr., an NDF peace consultant who has been missing since 2009.
But instead of properly verifying the information, they detained the wrong person. Someone may have claimed the P7.8 million bounty for the real suspect, all while the innocent man sat in a jail cell.
After spending months in detention, the elderly man was finally released. He walked out with a hat gifted by his fellow inmates and a t-shirt with messages of support. It was a small comfort for someone who had done nothing wrong, except for sharing a name with a wanted man.
Here is the full post:
“Sobrang dismayado ako sa sistema ng hustisya sa Pilipinas.
Isang 81 anyos na lolo ang ikinulong, inaresto dahil lang kapangalan niya raw ang isang wanted na tao, and the only difference? A “Jr.” at the end of his name.
December last year, hinuli si Tatay Pruding sa Olongapo. Hindi siya tumakbo. He went with the officers calmly, dala ang buong buhay niya sa bag: birth certificate, marriage contract, barangay ID, litrato, kahit ano para patunayan na siya si Prudencio Calubid Jr., hindi Sr. Hindi ’yung NDF peace consultant na matagal nang nawawala. Pero walang nakinig, walang pumansin.
And so he spent the last few months in detention while the real Calubid Sr. remains missing since 2009. Ang masakit? Someone probably claimed the P7.8 million bounty. And no one cared if they got the wrong man.
Paglabas niya ngayong gabi, dala niya ang sombrerong iniabot ng mga kosa niya, at isang t-shirt na may sulat para sa kanya. Para kay Tatay. Para sa isang taong wala namang kasalanan, kundi nagpakamalan lang dahil may kapangalan siyang kriminal.
Sabi nga ng abogada niyang si Sol Taule:
“Is it not prudent to verify information first?
What is Tatay Pruding’s crime?
Why is he being held for having a similar name?
These things are easily verifiable.”
And she’s right. Kung sa sistemang ’to, puwede kang makulong kahit inosente ka, just because of a name, how can people still believe the law is on their side? If even the innocent end up behind bars, then what kind of justice do we really have?
This isn’t just a mistake.
Bulok talaga ang hustisya sa Pinas!”
In another post, an elderly man loses his life in mall parking incident in Baguio City
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
