THERE is no sadder proof of how low this government has become than this: criminals getting the red-carpet treatment while in prison.
First, it exposes who—and what—the public is in the eyes of the government. We seem to be mere playthings, fools to be led by the nose.
Get real. The exposé is not new. The special treatment of rich and powerful inmates has been an open secret for decades. Talk of luxurious cells with air-conditioning and other hotel-like amenities have filled barbershop conversations for as long as can be remembered.
Fact is, it’s almost impossible to believe that only the government is in the dark about the illegal activities perpetrated inside the New Bilibid Prison.
Think for a second: How can the government not know? There are currently 22,000 inmates in a facility designed to hold only a maximum of 5,000. Certainly, in places as cramped as that prison, word gets around.
Let’s not even leap over the fence. What about the New Bilibid officials? What about the warden and his band of prison guards? Not being aware of what’s going on inside their area of jurisdiction is, in itself, a crime of neglect. But is it really neglect we are seeing here, or just plain old money talking?
It has been reported for the longest time that sex workers regularly come to New Bilibid. One way or the other, it can be understood. But to have first-class amenities, including a theater ensemble, and a “red light” district within the compound speaks loudly of our warped idea of justice.
One reality is how inmates can wiggle their way out of the compound freely and without catching attention. Jose Antonio C. Leviste’s unauthorized trips outside the compound while he was an inmate were serious enough to attract attention. Of course, he was a governor of Batangas province. But how many dozens more, behind the scenes, enjoy such a “privilege”?
Let us remember, justice provides a nation with a consistent way of dealing with problematic individuals or groups. Impunity has economic consequences. For one, it disembodies our sense of certainty, knowing at the back of our minds that criminals can roam freely, despite being judged as guilty.
Therefore, how can a nation pull itself together, socially and economically, while the lawless run scot-free?
Image credits: Jimbo Albano