The children are the victims in a society that doesn’t care 
The Universe
(January 29, 2006)
Argie was a frightened 13-year-old filled with anxiety and longing when I arrived at he jail in Metro Manila. His cell-mates begged me to take them out of the hot, poorly-ventilated and overcrowded cell – they only see daylight when they are taken out to their court hearing.
The jail officials quickly filled out the custody papers transferring Argie to my custody. While waiting for the heavy gate to open Argie grabbed my hand through the bars and demanded to know: “Are there padlocks at Preda, are there padlocks?” His eyes filled with dread and tears, fearful that he was being transferred from one hell hole to another. I reassured him that it was a free open home: “You can study, learn trades, play basketball everyday, go to the beach and have group therapy.”
I went to another jail where youths squatted like chickens in a cage, unable to lie down together.
In Marikina, the minors’ jail is on the sixth floor of the municipal building, far from adult prisoners. It is spacious airy and the minors have bunk beds. However, when we visited, we found two small and frightened young boys. One, John, is 12 and was arrested for playing cards on the sidewalk. His family could not afford the bribe to get him off.
In another jail, a small and bewildered 13 year-old girl charged with shop lifting was the latest arrival to the women’s overcrowded cell.
We brought medicines and food to yet another jail and again found it tightly packed. This time we had court orders for the release of two minors. The guard opened the gate of the cell for us to talk and bring food. That was a surprise for them. Our social workers told them they would go to Preda. They gaped in disbelief having just seen a TV report about the Preda center the previous evening. The TV in the corridor was their one luxury.
They quickly stuffed all their belongings into plastic bags and waited for the guard to lead them out. But instead, we were ordered out and the gate slammed shut. Horror registered on their faces. “No papers, no release!” the guard shouted. Right! We marched back to the office, got the papers and took the minors out into bright sunshine. They were traumatized, silent, skinny, and beaten down. They had rampant scabies, cockroach and mosquito bites. Later they said they had been raped inside.
It is no surprise then that the US authorities refuse to hand over custody of four US marines to the Philippine jailers. The four are accused of raping a Filipino woman at Subic Bay last November 2005. They would not last a month inside a Philippine jail. They stay at the US Embassy in Manila.
Former President Joseph Estrada is on trial for plunder but is jailed in some luxury, more like house arrest. Now he wants to be placed into the custody of Cardinal Vidal and the venerable gentlemen has agreed. If the court approves that is. Some have it better than others. The kids behind bars are just the throwaway children of a society that just doesn't care. [End]
Fr. Shay Cullen is a Columban missionary: PREDA Centre, Kalaklan, Olongapo City. www.preda.org
