Posted on 08/14/2006 2:36:08 AM PDT by Joseph Reylan B. Viray
A Visit to Manila City Jail By Joseph Reylan B. Viray
I will try to bring you friends to the Manila City Jail by just describing what the City Jail looks like and our telling experiences during our visit there.
The Manila City Jail is located in a congested area in Quezon Blvd, Manila, few meters away from the Isetan Department Store and a stone’s throw away from the LRT Recto station. It’s easy to get there. There are several routes going to the place. However, I advise that if you come there to visit a friend or a client, just take public utility vehicles than bring your own car. It’s hard to spot a comfortable parking area. The gates of the City Jail look corroded and rusty. Just by looking at the façade of the place, you can already formulate a depressing picture of its insides.
I was told together with my group mates to leave our mobile phones at the gate’s counter. I and Jonathan were hesitant to give our phones because of some negative prejudices we have of the officers. However, when we started dealing with the jail guards we realized that they look so descent and well-groomed. Most of them are young officers whose idealism exudes from their faces. Or maybe, they are most polite to us because we drop some big names in the Bureau.
Female dormitories are located on the left side of the gate just beside the Medical Infirmary, where sick detainees are confined. Male dormitories and cells are situated at the back of the Paralegal Office just across the Administration Office, Rehabilitation Office, and Operations. There are also dormitories located elsewhere in the compound which we were not given the opportunity to see and visit. There are nine towers surrounding the Jail. Walls which enveloped the compound are approximately 25-30 feet high. I imagined that it’s almost next to impossible to escape from the Jail passing through the towers and over the walls. And so I asked one of the guards: “How can a prisoner escape?” He answered: “They usually pass by the gates under the guise that they are visitors”. I laughed….
The first destination of the group was the Female Dorm. .Major Millet Batac is the Deputy Warden for Female Dorm, we interviewed her. She courteously replied to all our queries. The dorm looks so crowded. Detainees stay under the canopy which serves as quarters for some of them. Only 25% of the total number of 921 are staying inside the dorms and cells. I noticed that the area though crowded is free from mess and dirt except that there is a certain stench which surrounds the place. Reason: when 921 people with proximate distance from each other are confined in an area whose capacity is only less than 300, a disgusting odor is surely produced.
The Male Dormitories were visited by my other group mates and they can, with details, describe to you what the dorms look like and smell like. Ms. Viado can give a vivid picture of the dorms. She even fell in love with some of the detainees. We just convinced her that she is no match to them.
At the Rehabilitation Office, I met the Bureau Chaplain Fr. Sagadal. He told us some tales about PUP because he knows much about it since he obtained his doctoral degree in Public Administration at the PUP Graduate School. I overheard him telling the head of the office that they must be strict in screening some NGO which usually solicit plentiful donations outside and share meager amount to the Jail. Profiteering NGOs and other bogus ones earned money in the guise of charity.
Before we set home, I had a chance to observe a young lawyer who is about to enter the vicinity. He has no car along with him. He gives the Jail Guards with some snacks (suman and other kakanin). That made me wonder, may be the lawyer needs somehow to establish friendship and rapport with the guards to be comfortable inside the Manila City Jail. Some prisoners are really mischievous and to make your self safe from them, befriend the Guards. Prisoners are scared to hell of the Jail Guards. One prisoner who approaches the gate was even given a powerful blow on his back by a Guard at my sight.
Good article. Jails are not on many tourist visit lists.
Mabuhay.
Thanks for your report. Interesting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.