June 12, 2022, Sunday
My friends Malou and Dhel agreed to accompany me to visit our friend, who’s been in prison for two years, at the Binangonan Municipal Jail.
I planned on leaving our house at exactly 8 am. The clock alarmed but not loud enough to wake me, eto late na tuloy kami.
Left our house at 9:30 am. We couldn’t drive any faster because the road was clogged with motorbikes, tricycles, jeepneys, trucks, personal vehicles, pedestrians, and stray dogs.
There were road repairs too.
When jeepneys stopped, we stopped too.
Finally we’re here. I haven’t been to this part of Binangonan ever.
I picked up Malou and teacher Dhel outside Mercury Drug, while Di’s wife and daughter followed in a tricycle.
Our friend already spotted us from the window of his selda, called dormitory. Some prisoners were waving and calling but I couldn’t see them kasi malabo mata ko. I think they were all excited to see other humans from the outer world kahit hindi nila kamag-anak.
The place looks clean and new. I never knew there’s a prison pala here. Ang akala ko sa munisipyo lang. I still remember the old adobe municipal building at the center of town built during the Spanish time. The jail was located on the ground floor, on the back side of the building. There was a short unpaved road beside the municipal building leading to Sta. Ursula Parish passing right through the side gate of Binangonan Catholic High School. There was a big window with black iron grills and the prisoners were always nanunungaw sa bintana. They didn’t yell at passersby. Basta looking lang, behaved. At saka ang konti lang nila. Parang 10 lang. Walang drug pusher, no drug addicts. Hindi pa uso ang shabu nuon. Marijuana yes but none went to jail for sniffing leaves. Common cases were nagnakaw, nambugbog, nagtangkang manghalay (attempted rape, maybe murder but mostly due to a fight.
The new municipal building is now located at the entrance of the town in Calumpang. I was told that our friend was first incarcerated there and was later transferred to this bigger jail.
There’s a makeshift receiving area outside the gate. This is where visitors register, drop off food for their loved ones in jail, leave extra money for the prisoner’s allowance, etc. Only one or two are allowed at any single time. Hindi pwede isang barangay ang dadalaw. Usually, only the immediate family is allowed personal contact with the inmates.
Food and supplies brought by visitors are placed here for checking and sorting. Looks depressing if you ask me.
Sana meron man lang lamesa patungan ng mga padala hindi sa semento lamang.
Para kaming nagdala ng relief goods. I was pleased when I met these two young jail officers, a teacher and a nurse. At least we know that somehow the prisoners are taken cared of, and those who are lacking in education can learn how to read, weite, practice arithmetic.
I will send medicines thru John, the young nurse. He told me there was a very young boy who was jailed for a minor offense, Inaway yata yung pinsan, sinapok. They took pity on the boy and the jail warden helped process the papers necessary so the boy could be released back to his parents. Abah, ayaw na daw tanggapin nung mga magulang, Hindi daw nila maalagaan. Mabuti pa daw sa kulungan may pagkain. Kawawa naman ano? I would certainly come back next month to bring their requests such as wall fans or if I get so busy, ipapadala ko.
We were able to enter and spend maybe 30 minutes with my friend. The minute he saw me, he embraced me. Para tuloy maiiyak ako. He cried when he said he didn’t do what he was being charged of. He said he has not lost faith that he would be released from jail because he is innocent of the thungs the policemen accused him of. He said the arresting officers stole their personal belongings. He also mentioned that many inmates never had the opportunity to defend themselves in court. Meron daw nagnakaw ng manok, tatlong taon na nakakulong hanggang ngayon ni hindi pa naa arraign. Mabubulok yung tao na yunh sa kulungan for a minor offense. kung nagnakaw ng manok, paglinisin na lang ng mga tae ng baboy at manok ng isang linggo.
My friend had 13 court hearing notices pero lahat laging postponed. I hope the prosecutor and the judge let him exercise his right to prove his innocence. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty. What happens usually is a person is presumed guilty unless he convinces the public, and the court that he is innocent beyond reasonable doubt.
The inmates are taught massage therapy, a livelihood option when they are finally set free. At least, they can work as masahista. Massage anyone?
