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IF we are to look at the government record of approving and
ratifying international conventions, especially those concerning the
rights of the child, we will be greatly edified. There is almost
100-percent ratification but what appears on the gilded document in
the halls of the United Nations and on the streets and jails of our
cities and towns is very different indeed.
The gilded paper of ratified conventions is to
polish the image of Filipino political leaders before the
international community but their deeds on the ground are very
different. Inside the prisons for children and teenagers, the
youngsters live in dread of cruel beatings and torture, some are
forced to drink prisoners’ phlegm, and all are served slop not fit
for pigs while the rich convicted child rapist, former congressman
Romeo Jalosjos, friend of national leaders, lives in decadent luxury
in air-conditioned private quarters pampered with his every whim and
whatever money can buy.
The nation was agape when he claimed that his
presidential pardon given by President Macapagal-Arroyo entitled
him freedom by Christmas. He and his personal escorts drove out of
the penitentiary to the airport, boarded a private jet to fly home
to Zamboanga City where he was welcomed by political supporters and
worshipped like a movie star.
That’s how political child rapists are held in
esteem there. But the outcry and righteous anger of the general
public was immediate and loud. The government saw a political
backlash and immediately threw water on the flames and ordered him
arrested. It took two weeks of legal battling to return him to the
national penitentiary.
There he is now, back in his tree-shaded
bungalow with a tennis court while the impoverished inmates in
nearby overcrowded cells wallow in hunger and live in rags.
Over in Bicutan, inside the military camp is a
blue-painted four-story prison building. Inside there is no luxury
and despite the clean-looking picture painted 20 foot high it is a
living hell of fear, deprivation and abuse.
Michael, 15 year old, is a Grade 4 school
dropout. His father is detained for murder in a Caloocan City jail.
Michael is the third child in a family of five. He stole a necklace
worth P3,000 (US$70) to bring food to his family. He was arrested,
punched and imprisoned with adults. Weeks later, he was transferred
from the Caloocan police cell to Cradle, the Center for Restorative
Activities Development and Learning Experiences in Camp Bagong Diwa,
Bicutan, south of Metro Manila. What a learning experience he had,
typical of many that we learned about when we interviewed many
former Cradle inmates.
Instead of getting a new vision of life and hope
for a good future, he was welcomed by “Calatis,” one of the
guards, with a curse and blow to the chest: “Welcome back!” It
was his second time there. He was brutalized the first time he was
incarcerated in Cradle, he had no trust or interest in changing.
“Pacundo,” another guard, punished the
teenagers in the cells and forced them to drink the phlegm of other
inmates. (The guards’ identities are concealed from the prisoners
to perpetuate their abuse and brutality).
“Tatay Lobo” was a guard that Michael said
delivered routine punches to his body or whacked the teenagers with
a thick stick. These beatings are commonly known as “takal.”
Michael was kicked awake by the guard and made to crawl the whole
length of the second floor of the prison like a cockroach for the
amusement of the guards. Another time he was forced to hang from a
bar while the guard beat his feet with a stick. The other abusive
guards he only knew by the names “Mendez” and “Toledo.”
The inmates are allowed out of the cells to play
basketball only on Saturdays. Only the big boys or favorites of the
guards are allowed to play. The rest of the time, the minors are
locked in their cells and are allowed occasional activities when
charity workers visit.
(To be continued)
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