GMA - FRONT ROW Documentaries
GMA - FRONT ROW Documentaries
PRISONERS
A DOCUMENTARY
PART 1
Sa loob ng Munti
National Bilibid Prison
Aired in December 2011
Available URL to video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiDy7j5H7Gg
PART 2
Sentensiya
Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center
Aired September 13, 2013
Available URL to video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9C1PyqHC28#t=2340
Sa loob ng Munti
National Bilibid Prison
The documentary focused on how the National Bilibid Prisons really looked like in
present time, it is not the prison hell we pictured out based on movies and rumors we
heard. The inmates of this time seek recognition from the society, which they still
belong, and I just hope we put an open mind regarding the matter.
Prepared by:
Arvin S. Castaeda
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Sentensiya
Cebu Provincial Detention and
Rehabilitation Center
Michael Edulsa, accused for the crime of theft, already serving his sentence for 6
years inside CPDRC (Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center). He used to work as a
welder on a ship; the officials of the ship accused him of stealing a certain part of the welding
machine. According to him he was suppose to enter a plea of guilty and be on probation, but
the fiscal objected. He says that it seems ok to stay inside the prison as long as he is being fed,
but as time passes by he is growing old and he wanted to come out soon.
Lolo Porferio Baylon (74 yrs. old), accused for the crime of theft, already serving
his sentence for 8 years inside CPDRC. A shop attendant accused him of stealing a 1 gallon of
cooking oil (really?), Lolo Porferio didnt even how much it cost (but God forbid, never seen a
cooking oil worth PHP1000.00), he said that he was just falsely accused with somebody who is
the one who really stole the cooking oil. He was very upset that he was detained for 8 years for
committing a crime that he did not do. He is growing lonely as the day passes by, because of his
age and no one is paying him a visit.
Jail warden Romeo Manansala tells that Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation
Center (CPDRC) was the biggest detention center in region 7, it is composed of hardened
criminal up to those accused with simple offenses. CPDRC has been well known for the Cebu
dancing inmates, because of the lack of recreational areas they promote dancing as a
diversionary program. Dancing has made the inmates please and very happy that people
appreciated their talents, which also gave some people a perspective that prisoners could do
something positive while they are detained. He further said that jail guards were undermanned,
the ratio is 1 jail guard is to 150 prisoners (1:150). Congestion inside the jails is also a problem, a
jail would cater 20 prisoners, thats why sanitation and health is a problem nowadays. He said
that many of the inmates were overstaying, but he cant do anything about their release,
because it is up to the courts to decide when those detainees will be release.
Marco Toral, a former inmate who was acquitted, he recounts the slow judicial
process which takes 7-8 months to schedule for another hearing, worst at the scheduled
hearing its either the judge or the lawyer is not available , the hearing will be rescheduled
again. He said that due to the slow judicial process, it causes the congestion of inmates inside
CPDRC, thats why there are so many overstaying inmates who already served their sentence
but was not even promulgated.
Emma Butad, accused for violation of Anti Fencing Law, already serving her
sentence for 5 years inside CPDRC, she said she was falsely accused. While she was at her
workplace she was invited by a group of policemen to go with them to the city hall for some
question, she was then suddenly apprehended; she just learned of the charges later on that she
allegedly purchased a stolen Silver accessory. There is a time that she wanted to commit
suicide, but she desisted because of her children. She is growing lonely because her relatives
often visit her in a year. In 2 years she was never been issued a subpoena to attend trial.
Data (by the National Statistical Coordination Board) would say 68,702 or 94% of Filipino
prisoners were not yet been sentenced. There goes a legal maxim, justice delayed is justice
denied, and we are talking about how our Justice System is destroying the lives of those people.
Being imprisoned is equivalent to a dream shattered, we could wish for the enhancement of
the so called Right to speedy trial, but until when?
Prepared by:
Arvin S. Castaeda
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