Roots of Purpose and Formation
Born on June 27, 1971, in the serene barangay of Baybay, Carigara, Leyte, Jail Senior Superintendent Rill Fabella Sonon—affectionately called “Jojo”—was nurtured in an environment where public service and academic excellence were guiding principles. His father, Mr. Florillo Garrido Sonon, a respected Court Interpreter and DILG Officer, and his mother, Mrs. Teresita Villafranca Fabella, a dedicated Master Teacher, instilled in him not only intellectual rigor and discipline but also a profound sense of duty and commitment to the community.
Formative Years and Academic Pursuits
His formal education commenced at Alberto T. Aguja Memorial Central School in 1984, where he first imbibed the virtues of diligence, humility, and perseverance, which collectively served as the cornerstone of his enduring commitment to public service. In 1988, he entered the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte, an institution characterized by spiritual reflection and disciplined formation, where his moral fortitude and ethical disposition were further strengthened.
Guided by a vocation to serve and heal, he obtained the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation in 1993 and successfully passed the Nursing Licensure Examination in the same year. His pursuit of higher learning continued with the completion of a Bachelor of Laws at the Don Vicente Orestez Educational Foundation in 2006, and subsequently, a Master in Public Management, major in Public Safety, Order, and Development Security, from the Development Academy of the Philippines in 2014 — academic distinctions which equipped him with the requisite competence, integrity, and discernment to exercise leadership founded upon both compassion and justice.
Building a Career of Compassion and Discipline
Jojo began his career in jail management with a focus as Rehab and Health Officer at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City, with a strong focus on health and rehabilitation. He went on to serve as Health Officer at Tacloban City Jail, Custodial Officer at Carigara Municipal Jail, and Rehab and Health Officer at Lapu-Lapu City Jail. These roles reflected his belief that humane care and discipline must go hand in hand.
Ascending Through Leadership and Command
As Deputy Warden in Calbayog, Ormoc, Tacloban, and Tagbilaran, Jojo demonstrated tactical brilliance and a gift for uniting teams. His leadership as Officer-in-Charge of the Health Service Division underscored his vision of health as a cornerstone of custodial reform.
Within BJMP Region VIII, he rose through the ranks with distinction leading the Administrative Division with precision, the Intelligence and Investigation Division with integrity, and the Human Resource Development Division with heart. His legal expertise shone through roles in prosecution and paralegal services, while his strategic acumen was evident as Officer-in-Charge of the Regional Operations Division.
As Provincial Jail Administrator in Biliran, Leyte Norte, and Southern Leyte, Jojo brought innovation and community partnership to the forefront. His ascent to Regional Chief of Directorial Staff and Assistant Regional Director for Operations and Administration, and later as Senior Executive Secretary at BJMP National Headquarters, marked the culmination of a career built on excellence, ethics, and empathy.
Leadership Anchored in Love and Faith
Beyond his professional achievements, Jojo is a devoted husband to Ma. Christina Astilla Sonon, a Court Social Work Officer, and a proud father to Elisha Rill A. Sonon and Rill Emmanuel A. Sonon. His family remains his anchor and inspiration, reminding him that true leadership begins at home.
Excellence and Recognition in Service
He has earned numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Commandant’s Plaque, Leadership Award in Crime Scene Investigation, Junior Officer of the Year, and multiple Best Jail Warden honors. He was also named Best Provincial Administrator and recognized by Rotary International as a Paul Harris Fellow and Rotary Leadership Awardee for 2023–2024. He ranked Top 1 in Public Safety Basic Recruit Course (PSBRC) CL 34-1997, obtained certification as a Crime Scene Investigator from the National Forensic Science Training Institute (NFSTI) of the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), and consistently excelled as a top student in all mandatory and special courses.
The Regional Director has been the proud recipient of numerous prestigious honors, including the Medalya ng Papuri, Medalya ng Kasanayan, Medalya ng Paglilingkod, CRS Medal, Medalya ng Katapatan, and the Ribon ng Pagtulong sa Nasalanta, alongside multiple commendations, certificates of appreciation and merits conferred by various government sectors in recognition of his exemplary service.
Civic Engagements and Community Involvement
Jojo’s civic engagements reflect his passion for community upliftment. As President of the Central Carigara Fraternal Order of Philippine Eagles, a life member of Alpha Phi Omega International Service Fraternity and Sorority, and Charter Chapter Commander of Knights of Rizal, he blends leadership with camaraderie and service. His presidency of the Rotary Club of Central Tacloban City in 2023 further cemented his legacy of humanitarian outreach.
A man of many pursuits and profound purpose, Jojo embodies a rare synthesis of valor, intellect, and civic devotion. His affiliations are not mere badges of prestige but enduring symbols of a life committed to leadership, nation-building, and transformative service. A graduate of the Stormtigers Executive Motorcycle Riding Course (EMCRC) and designated as 01, he carries the spirit of tactical mastery and disciplined freedom into every endeavor. As a proud member of the Blast Riders Club and the Pais Eagles Club, he finds joy and brotherhood on the open road, where camaraderie meets purpose.
He also finds fulfillment in mountain biking and practical shooting, activities that mirror his resilience, focus, and discipline. His life is not just a list of titles but a testament to purpose, humility, and unwavering commitment to the greater good.
Partnership and Institutional Collaboration
With a heart attuned to collaboration and a mind sharpened by strategy, Director Rill Sonon has conducted proactive courtesy visits and formal MOA signings with key stakeholders, including Provincial and City LGUs, TESDA, DOH, and Civil Society Organizations transforming diplomacy into tangible progress. These engagements have yielded increased resource allocation for PDL livelihood programs, enhanced access to health services, and joint planning for future jail facility expansion, addressing congestion with foresight and compassion.
Reform Programs that Transform Lives
In the grand tapestry of public service, few figures shine with the quiet brilliance and resolute integrity of Director Sonon. At the heart of his leadership lies the visionary WASTONG B.I.H.I.S. Program, a culture-shaping initiative that elevates the professionalism, discipline, and ethical fortitude of BJMP personnel. Through this internal compass, Director Sonon has cultivated a workforce that does not merely enforce the law but embodies its noblest ideals with humility and pride.
His reformist spirit finds profound expression in the R.I.L.L. na Pagmamalasakit sa Loob ng Piitan program an integrated approach to Welfare and Development that ensures every activity within the jail walls contributes meaningfully to the transformation and reintegration of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL). It is a philosophy of hope, dignity, and second chances, where rehabilitation is not merely an aspiration but a lived reality.
Complementing this is the deeply humanistic R.I.L.L. Talk series an innovative behavioral and mental health intervention designed to foster self-awareness, emotional healing, and purposeful living among PDL and personnel. Through structured reflection and compassionate dialogue, Director Sonon has opened pathways for inner restoration and personal growth, even within the confines of incarceration.
In his unwavering pursuit of transparency and accountability, he established the R.I.L.L Hotline (Responsive and Immediate Line Linkages) a direct channel that empowers the public, Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), and personnel to report concerns, abuses, or emergencies with immediacy and trust.
Further amplifying his legacy is the comprehensive R.I.L.L. (Reintegration, Informed Journey, Learning and Livelihood) Na Pagmamalasakit sa Loob ng Piitan program, which harmonizes all PDL-centered welfare and development efforts into a unified, strategic framework.
Legacy of Leadership and Humanity
With nearly three decades of unwavering commitment to the cause of public service, Director Sonon has advanced through the ranks exhibiting steadfast fortitude and unassailable integrity. His career stands as a compelling testament to the transformative efficacy of humane and professional jail administration, wherein the principles of discipline are exercised in tandem with dignity, and reform is pursued not merely as an operational mandate but as an ethical and moral obligation.
Throughout the facilities and the region under his leadership, Director Sonon has instilled order, renewal, and hope, establishing standards of excellence and serving as a model of ethical governance and compassionate command for generations of jail officers.
