In the Philippines, there is a distinction between a “jail” and “prison”. A “jail” is defined as a place of confinement for inmates under investigation or undergoing trial, or serving short-term sentences. It is differentiated from the term “prison” which refers to the national prisons or penitentiaries managed and supervised by the Bureau of Corrections, an agency under the Department of Justice. So far we've spent time in the Olongapo and Lapu Lapu City jails, both of which are maintained by the Bureau of Jail and Management Penology (BJMP). Although the jails are supposed to be short term, many prisoners will remain in jail several years awaiting their hearing. Initially i thought a trial and hearing where the same thing, but every time I asked a guy when his "trial" was they’d correct me and say "hearing," which has led me to investigate the difference. What I've learned so far is that a hearing differs from a trial in a few ways. Although held in a court, a hearing is less formal and doesn't have a jury, and during the proceeding the judge determines what evidence will be admissible in court and if their is sufficient evidence to hold a defendant over for trial. Some cases are dropped altogether at a hearing due to lack of evidence or the accused is deemed innocent. Also, I think sentences for smaller cases can also happen at a hearing. In the Philippines the judicial process is slow and hearings are almost always postponed. Several reasons contribute to this, such as corruption, bribery, greed, as well as judges, officers, or witnesses not showing up which results in a rescheduling. A man named Ollie in for drug possession had six hearings postponed within the last year. This is a common story. So, if Ollie is convicted and required to serve a prison sentence of five years he won't get the time he spent waiting for his hearing in jail taken off his sentence.
The condition of the jails in the Philippines are very bad. All the ones i've visited are overcrowded, and extremely unsanitary. When I asked a guard in the Olongapo jail if they were beyond capacity he just laughed, reflecting how grossly overcrowded the facilities were (This was the same guard that boasted in the fact that the Olongapo jail won awards for being the best jail in the district). Because there isn't enough space or beds, many of the inmates sleep on the cell floor, and each cell has only one dingy toilet for 20 plus guys. Little to no rehabilitation is taking place with these men. Several religious groups and other organizations are scheduled to visit and do educational programs with the inmates, many of which are illiterate and haven't completed an elementary level education. These programs, however, are largely ineffective. Columban College sponsors the ALS program in Olongapo, but they don't have teachers to send to the jails. So, they either don't have class during that time or other inmates try to facilitate. One day we met two older American missionaries who teach regularly at the jail, but we discovered they only visit the two foreigners that are being detained for human trafficking. After witnessing the lack of rehabilitation, my next thought is in regards to how these men will be re-integrated into society.
In the Olongapo jail we got to know a man named Jeff whose in his mid-thirties. My initial impression of him was that he was a friendly, gentle, and soft spoken man. But behind the friendly smile and soft eyes is a man that has experienced and seen a lot of pain. Immediately, he showed the guys in our group hospitality by inviting us to share a meal with him and some other inmates. Currently, Jeff is under investigation for murder and has been in jail for six years awaiting a verdict on his case. Jeff was a security guard on the SBMA, and one night he was off duty and drunk and someone was murdered. According to him he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. which led to him being arrested for the crime. I'm not sure if he did it or not (my inclination is that he didn't do it), but in the Philippines there is no due process of law, which means a person is guilty until proven innocent, regardless of the crime they were arrested for. Jeff, like many of the other guys have families, and their biggest fear is to get convicted and sent to the maximum security prison in Manila, which would mean they would rarely, if ever see their families due to the distance and cost of travel (Just about every guy I've met is poor and their family is poor. One exception is June, who they all call the "Godfather"). Other men have been left by their families long ago. I don't know all the details of Jeff's case, but he says there is a possibility he'll get out soon, but even if that's happens he'll never get back those six years he was away from his wife and kids.
In Olongapo we had a group of guys that began to met with us regularly for an informal Bible study during visitation hours. One guy named Mark from San Diego, CA did most the translating. Mark is in for selling drugs and was telling us that the same cops he bought drugs from are the ones that arrested him. I'll never forget the moment in Olongapo when a group of inmates gathered around us and began whispering amongst themselves. When we asked Mark what they were saying, he said, "these guys are saying they want to learn about God." I'm thankful we had an opportunity to share with them our testimonies and teach them the Bible. During our time in Cebu we've made regular visits to the Lapu Lapu City jail. Clark, Craig, and myself recently got approval from the warden to have a formal bible class for two hours, two times a week with a group of 15 - 20 prisoners. To learn more about the jail bible class, click on the link below to watch an interview with Craig Duffy. Craig Interview link http://youtu.be/kx7ZvSAYcII
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