Well I have seen DVDs about the conditions of the prisons in the Philippines but finally I have been able to get very up close and personal with the inmates of the provincial prison here in the Sorsogon region. You would truly not believe it until you saw it for yourself. Think of that movie with Claire Danes (Brokedown Palace?) or Bridgit Jones for that matter and then times the horrificness by 100 and that is a Filipino prison.
I decided that as it was wet the other day, it would be interesting to go to the Court here. I took my barrage of bodyguards (I am very seldom allowed to leave the house by myself here) and went to the guardhouse to sign in. They presented me with a guide, the advantage of being foreign, who showed me not only into the courtrooms but also into the office of the Prosecutor (who was really nice and helpful) who was able to give me a run-down of the legal system here (seems to resemble the Spanish Inquisition but in an ineffective way) and also an insite into the Estrada trial. It was really interesting.
Since I was on a roll, we decided to try and get me into the prison, which is not something that is done here. In the pouring rain, we walked up to the guardhouse and asked if I could go inside for a look around. I think that guards thought that we were joking as they looked me up and down before yelling 'Are you serious? You want to go inside with the prisoners?' I am clearly a bit of a novelty around here and I think they thought I would back down. What you have to understand is that here the prisoners aren't in cells as such. They are basically in huge big partitioned areas and are from what I could see, free to move around and they please. So when i say I went for a look into the prison, I was in the cells amongst all of the inmates - many of whom looked completely barking mad. I was in my element and I think from the expression on Dads face, completely out of their comfort zone. To walk around I have five huge guards armed with guns, batons and knives. It was fantastic.
What I can't believe are the conditions in which the prisoners are held. This was a remand prison for all kinds of prisoners from Murder to theft. I met some of the prisoners, much to Dad's horror, and talked to the 9 female inmates who were in there for a raft of drug-related offences. As it was pouring with rain I got to see the prison at its worst. The inmates sleep on wooden bunks without mattresses or in some cases blankets of any kind and they all cook for themselves in the cells. There is a very crude looking gas burner and some old pots in each cell. The smell and the atmosphere is beyond any kind of human rights breach you could imagine. Justice is not kind here at all and whether you are found guilty or not, once you are a suspect you are screwed. Watching the evening news you see suspects in anything from a basic breach of peace to a murder charge being publically shamed in front of the national media. They are paraded about before the cameras and in many cases made to apologise for things they have not yet been proven to have done.
To add to this little legal adventure, I went to the court this morning to watch the criminal list Court. At the adjournment, which happened all of 45mins into the morning, I walked out in both frustration and disgust. Beforehand I met the Judge who was at best a grumpy old bastard (excuse my french) who said that if I had've been dressed more appropriately (I was in jeans and a long sleeved top - pretty much the same attire as the lawyers who wore shorts or jeans) he would have let me sit with counsel. No thank you.
The list includes anything from homocide to theft to lusciviousness. The rape case that was up first for sentencing was 6 counts of rape on a minor and the guy was given a sentence of 75,000pesos for each count by way of criminal damages, 75,000 pesos for each count for costs or something like that and 25,000 pesos for exemplary damages per count. What the hell? No prison for that guy and how on earth they expect him to pay I have no idea. I wanted to shout at the Judge and ask him what the hell he was thinking but thought better of it. Another theft with homocide was settled out of court!!! I was a complete bloody joke and I wish the Judge had've let me take photos of the files etc. I am still in shock. Without juries, the justice system here is swift but completely corrupt. If you can give anyone in a public office something for their 'marienda' afternoon snacks, you can get anything done.
It is a different world altogether, that's for sure.
