Drunk British tourist 'asks to be jailed to give inmates inspirational talk'
A drunk British tourist reportedly asked police to throw him in a jail cell in the Philippines so he could give inmates an inspirational talk.
The 38-year-old holidaymaker, identified only as 'Diego', was allegedly drunk when he walked into Abellana Police Station in Cebu, in the early hours of June 18.
He claimed his phone was stolen and that the gadget contained important documents.
But while officers were processing his report, he allegedly struck up an unlikely friendship with inmates being held in the station's temporary detention cell located near the officers' desk.
Diego was said to have been so encouraged by their conversation that he asked to be locked inside the cell for an hour 'so he could spend more time with the detainees'.
Footage shows the heavily tattooed Brit ranting at baffled staff about how imprisonment 'doesn't help'.
He said: 'How does that help? It doesn't help. That makes him feel like an animal, and you're like spectators looking at this. There's no help.
'Put me in there for an hour, I will help. We need to help these, not destroy.
'Ok, they're bad people. If they are really bad and they have killed people, ok kill them. If they're not, help them.'
The Brit reportedly wanted to motivate the inmates and tell them that they were not bad people and could change their lives, despite facing criminal charges.
He was later seen arguing with an exasperated officer, insisting he be locked up.
Police later asked the tourist to leave and advised him to sober up at his lodging in Mandaue City.
They added that he appeared to have been drunk at the time.
Cebu is one of the Philippines' top tourist hotspots, known for its beaches, diving, and island-hopping.
It is also a major expat hub, attracting foreigners with its low cost of living and laid-back island lifestyle.
