Mandaluyong City Mayor Ben Abalos led the "Kasalan sa Piitan" at the Mandaluyong City Jail yesterday, the first mass civil wedding in the country where 20 inmates were married to their respective partners.

Among the 20 couples who got married in the mass wedding were three couples who were living-in before they entered jail. Meanwhile, one male inmate got married to his 70-year-old partner.

Mayor Abalos was joined by Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos, city councilors, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology — National Capital Region Director Jail Chief Superintendent Clint Russel Tangeres, CESE.

According to Mayor Abalos, the "Kasalan sa Piitan" is under the "Re-integration, Reformation Program" of the city government and the city jail for inmates particularly those with good conduct time allowance.

The city government recognizes the right of PDLs to marry their partners even while serving time in jail.

City Civil Registry head Atty. Gabriel Corton said the program aims to help the inmates and their respective spouses legalize their marriage. This helps the ease of processing the legitimacy of their children in their birth certificates.