c el state mind
Many people have been demanding that the persons implicated in the DAPF (Development Acceleration Program Fund) scam should all be placed in the City Jail. On the surface there’s nothing wrong with that until you realize that people say so not because it is what the law usually states or is in the interest of justice, but rather it is public knowledge that City Jails are seen as the modern day equivalent of Dungeons and torture chambers in the Philippines. In general, people demand that an enemy of the people stay at the City Jail because it is the next best thing to a death sentence. You can wish it upon your worst enemy because it qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment. If the horrid conditions don’t kill you, an inmate might.
It may upset many righteous believers in law and justice but our City Jails, provincial jails and state penitentiaries with the possible exception of the Iwahig colony are monuments to our indifference, cruelty and religious hypocrisy. Some animal lovers say that to know the true nature of a society all you need to do is watch how they treat their animals. If that is the case how are we suppose to respond to the truth that we treat our cats and dogs, horses and fightingcocks a thousand times better than we treat prisoners? What are we suppose to think of people whose idea of justice and punishment is to confine persons in sub-human sub-animal conditions? That to me is both cruel and wicked.
It is the greatest irony in this “Only Christian- Catholic nation” that we have a Human Rights Commission that is totally blind to the inhuman conditions and daily violations of Human Rights in our city jails. The CHR is quick to pounce on what’s on the front page but like many of us never see the greatest Human Rights violation in the Philippines. Now that some attention has wrongly been given to City jails because of the pork barrel scam, it may be a good opportunity and time for all of us to review “our cruel state of mind” in relation to City Jails and how imprisonment or detention there is viewed as equals to justice.
First of all City Jails are supposed to be temporary facilities for people arrested and whose cases are being tried in court and yet conditions in City Jails are far worse than in state penitentiaries. The Dungeons we call City Jails are or should be a national concern but are under local governments where they are not a financial priority or human concern. If City jails are congested there are only three reasons I can think of: first the city has a poor crime prevention program and police presence that would discourage criminal activity. Second, the cities refuse to develop expand facilities like jails as their population and economy grows which also affect crime and prisoner statistics. Third reason why City jails are overpopulated is because there is a failure in the delivery of justice or processing of criminal cases in a particular city.
The Human Rights Commission should immediately investigate these deplorable and inhuman conditions and file charges against local government officials as well as jail officials who have allowed these things to happen. Lawmakers MUST conduct a thorough investigation of the problem and insure that jurisdiction, accountability, continued development and budget allocations on the matter are mandatory and not discretionary or subject to priorities laid down by politicians. Those in authority should also consider relocating and privatizing these facilities to areas better suited for the purpose and run by professional managers and not half literate political appointees who see themselves as Dungeon Masters.
As a final thought on the matter, it would do all of us some good and a better perspective if we take time to imagine how would we feel if the shoe were on the other foot. In many instances, people end up in jail and in court only to be proven innocent later. Often times we are reminded in police documentaries that the people portrayed and arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty. By placing ourselves in the shoes of the accused, we might be able to temper our zeal, our anger and remember that until the Judge or Justice says: “Guilty”, you are not. I’ve bailed out a few people from City jails and its bad enough being accused wrongly but to be treated like an animal instead of a criminal by your government and your neighbor; that is the bigger crime.
My friend Cynthia Tinsay Gonzales who is very much involved in helping and teaching special children through her school REACH recently informed me that her group; The Assumption High School Batch 1979 will hold a private screening of the movie entitled “DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’: EVERYMAN’S
JO RNEY”. This will be held on July 24, 2014, Thursday, 6 p.m. and 8:30 at the Powerplant Cinema 6.
Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey follows the real life rock n’ roll fairy tale of Filipino Arnel Pineda, who was plucked from YouTube to become the front man for iconic American rock band Journey. In this Cinderella story for the ages, Arnel, having overcome a lifetime’s worth of hardships, must now navigate the immense pressures of replacing a legendary singer and leading a world-renowned band on their most extensive world tour in years.
Whether you follow rock n roll trends and tales, the story of Arnel Pineda will certainly be interesting especially among those familiar with American music. From what I understand Batch 1979 plans to devote proceeds from the film showing to their project for victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Please go watch the movie and help others in the process.