1 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:10,160 [Rowe] Manila City Jail, the Philippines. 2 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:14,000 One of the most overcrowded prisons in the world. 3 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,360 The government's controversial war on drugs 4 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,840 has pushed its inmate population to the brink. 5 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,560 Drugs, drugs again, murder. 6 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,880 -You've been in prison ten times. -Yeah. 7 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,120 Five thousand men are crammed into this prison 8 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,560 built for just 1,200. 9 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:33,640 I cannot believe what I am seeing. 10 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,200 I mean, I'm lost for words, to be honest. 11 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,960 With only one guard for every 400 inmates, 12 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:44,880 parts of this penitentiary are run by criminal prison gangs. 13 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,560 I don't want my children to be victims of these people. 14 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:50,480 My name's Raphael Rowe, 15 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,800 and I'm spending a week locked up in this packed jail 16 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:57,120 alongside notorious criminal gangs, 17 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,920 who just, six months ago, went on a murderous rampage, killing rivals. 18 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:08,320 [in Tagalog] What I saw was really like war. 19 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,320 But it's not my first time behind bars. 20 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,880 I was convicted in the UK of a murder I did not commit, 21 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:19,880 and sentenced to life with no parole. 22 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,960 It took me 12 long years to clear my name. 23 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:26,880 Now I'm traveling the globe 24 00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:29,480 to discover what life is really like 25 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,680 inside some of the world's toughest prisons. 26 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:43,240 [dark, percussive music] 27 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:45,280 Manila, the Philippines. 28 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,520 This country is gripped by a drugs epidemic 29 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,840 that has led to a huge crime wave and gang wars. 30 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:54,680 -[officer] Your son? -[woman sobs] 31 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,520 President Rodrigo Duterte rode to power 32 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,760 on a murderous promise to deal with the drug problem 33 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,320 by killing producers, dealers, and users. 34 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:06,640 [in English] 35 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,000 Tonight, I'm heading out on a drugs raid 36 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:20,360 with one of the frontline units 37 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:21,920 mercilessly prosecuting 38 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,200 the president's war on drugs. 39 00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:29,560 I'm inside the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency's headquarters, 40 00:02:29,640 --> 00:02:32,800 and as you can see behind me, their operatives are getting ready 41 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:34,640 to go out on an operation. 42 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,120 Their target: a suspected drug dealer. 43 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,040 [brooding music plays] 44 00:02:45,920 --> 00:02:49,000 How big a problem is drugs here in the Philippines? 45 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,400 Uh, prior to the assumption of the president right now, 46 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,520 this is a major national problem. 47 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:56,880 But as of now, I think we are winning the war. 48 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:58,680 That's what we're doing right now. 49 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,360 -And you consider it a war. -Oh, yeah, it's a war. 50 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,760 It's a war against humanity, a war against mankind. 51 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,320 The target is in a poor shantytown in East Manila. 52 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:11,920 -[agent 1 over radio] Now. -[agent 2] Go. 53 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:14,920 -[agent 1] Go. Keep going. Go. -[agent 2] Go. 54 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:16,040 [agent 1] Let's go! 55 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:17,280 [dogs barking] 56 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,040 I think they've arrived at their destination. 57 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:25,520 [dog barking] 58 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,600 [Rowe] The suspect is a young pregnant woman with a child. 59 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,560 [tense music playing] 60 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:43,080 [woman in Tagalog] That is not mine! 61 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:44,840 [Rowe] They've found something. 62 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:51,680 [woman in Tagalog] Please have mercy on me. Have mercy on me! 63 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,200 -[Rowe] Looks like drugs… -[woman crying] 64 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:58,280 …inside little packages of what I suspect is meth. 65 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:04,320 [woman in Tagalog] I am not a drug pusher. 66 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,840 Crystal meth, a powerful stimulant, 67 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,080 is the drug of choice for many poor Filipinos 68 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:15,360 who use it to work longer hours to survive. 69 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:19,280 -[woman sobbing] -She's absolutely distraught 70 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,320 and hasn't stopped crying. 71 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:24,960 And the only word I can make out from her is "baby." 72 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,360 [child wailing] 73 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:28,320 [woman sobbing] 74 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,440 And she must know that her kid is going to be taken away. 75 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:35,240 This woman, who is a suspected drug dealer, 76 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:36,960 knows her fate… 77 00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:39,480 is going to be prison. 78 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:42,400 [brooding music fading away] 79 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,000 [tense music plays] 80 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:50,680 This woman, like countless others arrested every day for drugs here, 81 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,440 will be sent to one of Manila's jails. 82 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,360 And I'm heading to the toughest of them all, Manila City Jail, 83 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,880 to spend a week as a prisoner. 84 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:04,680 Since coming to power in 2016, 85 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:07,480 the government claim Duterte's war on drugs 86 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,160 has taken over 500 million US dollars' 87 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,760 worth of narcotics off the streets, 88 00:05:13,840 --> 00:05:18,000 and made over 160,000 arrests. 89 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,440 This hardline purge has swollen 90 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:28,640 the already overcrowded prison population to breaking point. 91 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,160 What scares me more than anything 92 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,960 is the fact that there is only one guard for 400 prisoners. 93 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:41,160 How do you protect prisoners from the threat of violence? 94 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,280 I'm told it's the prisoners who protect the prisoners. 95 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,560 I don't know what to expect when I get into this prison. 96 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,240 [ominous music plays] 97 00:05:52,280 --> 00:05:53,560 [horn honks] 98 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:55,600 [gate creaking] 99 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:01,080 Manila City Jail was built for 1,200 inmates, 100 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:05,240 but it's now crammed with almost 5,000 prisoners. 101 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:10,160 [guards speaking Tagalog] 102 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:14,080 -Here? -[man yells indistinctly] 103 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,080 -[guard] Your name? -Raphael Rowe. 104 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:17,920 To me. 105 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:21,480 Up your hands. Like this. 106 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,720 This is a first, being searched out in the open. 107 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:27,520 What's the stamp for? 108 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,760 -[guard] To identify you as a PDL. -[Rowe] A PDL? 109 00:06:30,840 --> 00:06:32,720 Persons deprived of liberty. 110 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:38,120 These stamps now define me as a person deprived of liberty. 111 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:39,720 [woman] Right index. 112 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:42,800 They're taking my biometrics. 113 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:44,080 You may proceed now. 114 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:52,680 [Rowe] A distinctive color, isn't it? 115 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,560 "Changing lives and building a safer nation." 116 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,120 I wonder what that actually means. 117 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,120 -[camera beeps] -Once processed by the prison, 118 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:06,920 I'm handed over to inmates, not guards, who'll take me to my cell. 119 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,240 [indistinct chattering] 120 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,280 [Rowe] It's heaving. There's so many men 121 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,320 in these yellow T-shirts that I'm wearing. 122 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:15,360 Like a beehive. 123 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:17,640 It's packed. 124 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:19,240 Not just with prisoners, 125 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,960 but also their visiting families as well. 126 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:23,840 [boy giggles] 127 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,040 I'm being sent to Dorm 4, 128 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,800 where all new prisoners are sent for assessment 129 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:32,800 before being allocated a final cell. 130 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,840 I'm led upstairs to my new quarters. 131 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:40,160 [indistinct chattering] 132 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,080 I--I cannot believe what I am seeing. 133 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,880 I mean, I'm lost for words, to be honest, 134 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:59,600 of the space that I'm in and the amount of men that are squeezed into this space. 135 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,960 Because this place is chronically overcrowded. 136 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,080 Something I've never seen before. 137 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:09,600 [brooding music plays] 138 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:10,520 Oh, here? 139 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:14,520 I'm sent to the back of the block, where I'll be sleeping tonight, 140 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,920 and meet my new cellmates. 141 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,680 -How are you doing? I am Raphael. -J.R., and… 142 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,000 -T.J. -[Rowe] T.J., Raphael. 143 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:23,600 -Ading. -[Rowe] Ading. 144 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,040 What was you convicted and sentenced to? 145 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:27,720 Um… 146 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:28,840 Drugs. 147 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:31,680 How long did you get sent to prison for? 148 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:34,160 Seven months. 149 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:35,880 [Rowe] Been in prison before? 150 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:37,680 [J.R.] It's my first time here. 151 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:39,600 What's your drug of choice? 152 00:08:39,680 --> 00:08:41,120 -Meth. Yeah. -Meth. 153 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,760 [Rowe] Have you been sent to prison because you were caught using drugs? 154 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:46,720 -Yeah. -[Rowe] Not selling drugs? 155 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:48,800 -Was you selling them--? -Not selling. 156 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:50,160 -Just using. -Just using. 157 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:55,000 I don't feel like I'm in a prison. I feel like I'm inside a cattle cage. 158 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:01,440 [in Tagalog] We cannot do anything but endure our situation now. 159 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,760 There's 400 men in this crowded dorm, 160 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:09,600 so I'm relying on J.R. to show me the ropes. 161 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:12,880 Can you give me a tour? I want to know how things work here. 162 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:14,840 Yeah. Okay. Yeah, come on. 163 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,320 [Rowe] We can walk anywhere we want to right now. 164 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:18,240 [J.R.] Yeah. 165 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,080 Everywhere I look, there are prisoners. 166 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,640 There's no free space at all. 167 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:27,800 This is the written rules inside the Dorm 4. 168 00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:30,720 You can see "patakaranan ng Dorm 4," 169 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,160 meaning "respect all the hierarchy of Dorm 4." 170 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,320 -[Rowe] Prison governors. -[J.R.] No, they're all prisoners. 171 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:38,920 [Rowe] High-ranking prisoners. 172 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,680 -Yes. -Oh, right. Okay. 173 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,280 -These are the written rules? -Yeah, written rules. 174 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:44,880 What are the unwritten rules? 175 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,360 [J.R.] If you get bump to the visitors, 176 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:52,760 you will get um, 50 slap of the paddle. 177 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,360 -From the what? Paddle, like a stick? -Paddle, yes. 178 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:59,400 You mean a visitor's walking, and you bump in like that? 179 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:00,520 -Yeah. -Accidentally? 180 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,120 [J.R.] Accidentally. Also… No questions at all. 181 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:04,600 Okay, 50? 182 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:07,640 Oh, just like this kind of wood. 183 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,800 [Rowe] And they beat the back of your legs. How hard? 184 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:12,440 Okay. 185 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:15,320 -[Rowe] Fifty? -[J.R.] Fifty. 186 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:18,680 -By the prisoners? -Yeah. 187 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:21,760 [Rowe chuckles] I felt that. 188 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,840 It's astonishing that the rules are not only written by the inmates, 189 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,640 but the punishments are dished out by the prisoners, too. 190 00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:34,200 [gate creaks] 191 00:10:35,560 --> 00:10:38,920 It's 10:00 p.m., and we're all locked in for the night, 192 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,240 crammed into the dormitory like sardines. 193 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,680 [Rowe] How would we sleep 194 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:49,680 in a space that is not big enough for the amount of men 195 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:51,280 that are being kept here? 196 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:52,480 [in Tagalog] Lie down. 197 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,120 [J.R.] They sleep just like that. 198 00:10:55,680 --> 00:10:56,880 [speaks Tagalog] 199 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:00,160 Like this. 200 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:02,800 Why you got your leg over him? 201 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:04,760 [J.R.] To get some space with… 202 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:11,400 [in Tagalog] To survive here, you have to learn to get along with others. 203 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:15,040 [sorrowful music plays] 204 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,480 I'm shocked by the situation 205 00:11:17,560 --> 00:11:20,360 and the inmates' acceptance of it. 206 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:23,280 [Rowe] "We've got to survive," they say. 207 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:25,760 "We got no choice," they say. 208 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,520 And the fucking reality is, they don't. 209 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,640 It only takes one or two guys to say, "I've had enough. 210 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,280 I'm not gonna stand for this. We've got to riot 211 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,880 because this is not what we should be treated like, 212 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:38,760 regardless of what I've done." 213 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,280 That bothers me. 214 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:41,720 [crickets chirping] 215 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:51,840 [upbeat music  plays] 216 00:11:54,680 --> 00:11:59,680 It's my second day in one of the most overcrowded prisons in the world. 217 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:07,240 I'm put straight to work with the sweeping crew, 218 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:12,360 made up entirely by members of the prison's LGBTQ community, 219 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,920 who have chosen to do this work together. 220 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:19,560 [Akashi] LGBT community! LGBT community! 221 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,000 -Hi. -Hi. I'm Raphael. 222 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:24,240 -I'm told-- -I'm Akashi. 223 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:25,680 -What's your name? -Akashi. 224 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:26,840 Akashi. 225 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:31,440 Akashi, I've been that I've got to work with you and your gang of cleaners today. 226 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:32,920 You show me. I'll follow. 227 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:34,280 You sweep the floor. 228 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,280 -Sweep… On my own? With who? -You sweep the floor. 229 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,760 -To across there? -Other girls, make a line. 230 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:41,320 -Um… -Sweep the floor. 231 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:43,280 [indistinct chatter] 232 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:44,880 [inmate] Sweep the floor. 233 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,120 [Rowe] How long have you been in here? 234 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,320 -[Kenneth] Been here three months. -[Rowe] And what's that for? 235 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:52,920 I'm involved in drugs. 236 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,440 Oh. Are you convicted or on remand? 237 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:56,840 First convicted. 238 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:58,320 -Yeah, first convicted. -Huh? 239 00:12:58,400 --> 00:12:59,840 First convicted. 240 00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:03,200 -You as well? First convicted? -[Akashi] Yeah, she too. 241 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:04,840 How long? 242 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:05,960 Two years. 243 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:07,760 -You've been here two years? -Yeah. 244 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:09,080 So who's your partner? 245 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,240 -[in Tagalog] My beshy. -Oh, you two are partners. 246 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:14,920 Just like me, confidently beautiful with a heart. 247 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:16,400 -[Akashi] Yeah. -Like that. 248 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:17,840 [Akashi laughs] 249 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:24,840 Who should I give this back to? 250 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:26,000 [Akashi] Thank you. 251 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:27,560 Sweeping over, 252 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,880 I'm called to meet counselor Hannah Nario-Lopez. 253 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:35,600 As a new prisoner, she must decide which dorm I'll be moved to 254 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:37,160 for the rest of my time here. 255 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,440 Hi. Hey, Raphael. I'm Hannah. 256 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,760 First, she questions me about my family support network. 257 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:46,560 I would like to know more about your family. 258 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:48,440 Were you raised by your parents? 259 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:50,640 How was your relationship with your siblings? 260 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:54,600 I was raised by my parents. I do have siblings, um, 261 00:13:54,680 --> 00:13:58,320 and our relationship is very healthy and good. 262 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,360 -Do they know that you're here? -They do know I'm here. 263 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:07,840 Do prisoners normally respond to these types of inquiries? 264 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,080 'Cause I suppose prying into their history, 265 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:14,480 which… It can make them quite defensive. 266 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:16,280 We do understand that. 267 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:20,520 So we ask their experience about their past, 268 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,400 educational attainment, 269 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:24,280 substance abuse problems. 270 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,720 This information should enable the prison 271 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,040 to decide suitable rehabilitation for me. 272 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,000 Given that this prison is so overcrowded, 273 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:38,200 how can I be confident that anything I ask for, 274 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:39,280 you can provide? 275 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,760 We try to do our best to invite, you know, external help. 276 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:44,320 That's one of the problems, 277 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,520 'cause officers here are also severely undermanned, 278 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:50,760 and they really rely on the shared governance 279 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,400 and the understanding that we have 280 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,080 uh, with the PDLs. 281 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:59,840 So, the prisoners have control over other prisoners? 282 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:02,080 That's what shared governance is. 283 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:03,840 I'm not gonna call it control. 284 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:05,520 It's more of accountability. 285 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,680 Each dorm has a mayores, 286 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,480 uh, or their gang leader, their pangkat leader. 287 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:14,680 But here in the Philippines, the pangkat, or the gang, 288 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:16,960 is actually a positive implement 289 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,840 of an alternative structure of governance. 290 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,480 The mayores makes sure 291 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:26,480 that everybody follows the rules of the jail. 292 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:28,880 But that can be abused. Even by prisoners? 293 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:30,920 -Yes. -You give a prisoner the power… 294 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,960 We're not going to deny that. But what can we do right now? 295 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,360 The cooperation between inmate and officer is very important, 296 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:39,800 since we're severely undermanned, 297 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,760 and the moment that an inmate, a PDL, 298 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,800 um, you know, causes some sort of disorder-- 299 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,880 -Could trigger something bigger. -It could trigger something bigger. 300 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:51,880 That shocked me. 301 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:53,840 I've never heard of a prison 302 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,960 that relies officially on the inmates to police themselves. 303 00:15:58,040 --> 00:15:59,920 Traditional gangs 304 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:01,840 have a hierarchy 305 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:05,080 of the kingpin, the don, the main gangster. 306 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:10,880 And then you have all the following ranks beneath that. 307 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,880 So, I wonder if what's happening here 308 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,680 is that traditional gang mentality and culture, 309 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,760 or whether there is something completely different going on. 310 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,560 After their daily chores are completed, 311 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:31,400 the inmates are free to socialize and hustle for the money they need 312 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:33,000 to buy essentials, 313 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,040 like extra food to survive. 314 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,840 Some inmates even have little businesses. 315 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,000 They seem to sell anything and everything. 316 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,440 Even these clothes are on the floor for sale. 317 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:46,680 They're selling lumps of coal, 318 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,440 which I suspect prisoners use to burn, to cook. 319 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:56,200 Thanks to the courts being overwhelmed by the avalanche of drug charges, 320 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:58,960 most of the 5,000 prisoners here 321 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:00,840 are actually on remand. 322 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:04,680 Many will serve years before they get their day in court. 323 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,000 [in Spanish] How are you? 324 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:13,800 Hans was one of a group charged with beating to death a fellow student 325 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,600 in an initiation ritual that went wrong. 326 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:18,440 [inaudible] 327 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,920 Before I was confined, I was a law student. 328 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:23,680 [in English] Oh, right. 329 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:27,760 -You spend most of your time in this-- -Yeah. 330 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,240 How long have you been in this dormitory? 331 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:33,480 -[Hans] Almost two years. -[Rowe] Two years? 332 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,680 -So you are not convicted. -I'm not convicted. 333 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:38,200 And I'm innocent. 334 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,120 Why has your trial not taken place? 335 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:43,080 Our case is actually running pretty much faster 336 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:46,560 than a regular case. 337 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:48,200 I wouldn't call two years fast. 338 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:52,080 The last mayores was in here for 14 years. 339 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:53,880 He was eventually acquitted. 340 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,200 -So he spent 14 years in prison. -Yeah. 341 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:58,440 Do your family believe that you wasn't involved? 342 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:02,240 Yeah. They visit me here almost every weekend. 343 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,480 They come here, and they visit me. They bring food, 344 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:09,000 so at least I may taste food outside jail. 345 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:11,480 -Are you part of the gang culture here? -No. 346 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,240 Uh, they labeled me as a querna. 347 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,840 When you say a PDL is a querna… 348 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,240 querna is someone who is not affiliated to any gang. 349 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:21,240 Right, okay. 350 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:23,520 What's the benefits of being in a gang, then? 351 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:27,120 Oh, you have… you have a support system. 352 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,440 I believe I don't need that support from the gang. 353 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,160 So for those who don't have family bringing food 354 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:34,960 and money and stuff to help you, 355 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,800 they get it from their fellow gang members. 356 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,760 It's like, uh… it's like joining a community. 357 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:43,960 Inside a gang, they, um… What do you call this? 358 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:47,000 They have their own, uh… they have their own fund. 359 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,640 They have their own programs, their own projects. 360 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:52,760 What's expected of those gang members, then? 361 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:57,160 Are they expected to do things in return for those rewards? 362 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:58,160 Yeah. 363 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:02,080 Uh, the gang has their own Magna Carta. 364 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:03,560 They have their own rules. 365 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:07,200 So, if you follow those rules, you would get incentives. 366 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:11,120 And if not, you will get disciplinary action from them. 367 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:13,560 What's the worst disciplinary action? 368 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:15,160 Uh… 369 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,320 -Can I say that? [chuckles] -That's up to you, if you want to. 370 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:20,280 Okay, from what I observe, 371 00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:24,600 uh, you're gonna get, um… you're gonna get beaten. 372 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:27,800 If your co-gang member 373 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:33,600 uh, had done something bad to a member of another gang, 374 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,000 we will put a disciplinary action on our-- 375 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,800 We will discipline him rather than it become a war between different gangs. 376 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:44,400 So, in a way, that becomes a way for keeping the peace here in jail. 377 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:46,680 [Rowe] Okay. 378 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:49,480 Hans is lucky. 379 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:54,040 He has money, so he doesn't have to rely on the gangs to support him. 380 00:19:54,120 --> 00:19:57,880 But everything I'm hearing so far is pointing to the fact 381 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:01,920 that it's the gangs who are really in charge of this prison, 382 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:03,280 not the guards. 383 00:20:06,120 --> 00:20:09,360 Tomorrow, I'm being moved to a new cell block, 384 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,920 and I'm nervous about what awaits me. 385 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:18,560 [ominous music plays] 386 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:25,200 It's moving day, 387 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,120 when we'll be transferred to the cells 388 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,080 where we'll spend the rest of our sentence. 389 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,120 -How are you doing? You good? -How are you? 390 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:41,240 Is everybody waiting for the guards to come and tell them where they're going? 391 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:42,360 [J.R.] Yes. 392 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,960 I have a symbol here, Bahala Na gang, 393 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:49,920 so it's okay if I go to Bahala Na gang dorm. 394 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:51,600 Is that where you hope to go? 395 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:52,520 Yes. 396 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:55,600 [in Tagalog] I know a lot of people in the Bahala Na gang. 397 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:58,600 Many of them are my childhood friends. 398 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:02,040 When did you first become one of the gang members? 399 00:21:02,120 --> 00:21:05,360 [in English] When I get caught, January 20, 400 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:10,080 I see one of the prisoners in a police station. 401 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:13,200 [in Tagalog] Um, I knew him. He was my neighbor. 402 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:18,160 So to get privileges in prison, I joined the gang. 403 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:20,520 -They look after you. -Yes. 404 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:22,520 What do you have to do in return? 405 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,320 [in Tagalog] If have visitors with… 406 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,720 [in English] So food and money, I will give them. 407 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:34,120 Bahala Na is one of the four big criminal gangs in the Philippines, 408 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:38,200 operating both outside and inside the prison. 409 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,440 And although J.R. may have joined for protection, 410 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:46,080 there's no guarantee he'll end up in the dorm controlled by them. 411 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,200 [Joz in Tagalog] Take your belongings. 412 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,160 [J.R.] Right hand, right shoulder. Just follow. 413 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:58,960 The prison authorities decide which cells prisoners are sent to. 414 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:04,320 But the men collecting us are gang bosses, known as mayores, 415 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:06,280 from our new dorms. 416 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,400 [Joz in English] Sit down. Align yourself. 417 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:10,520 [J.R.] Sit here. 418 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:13,960 Dorm 8, Raphael Rowe. 419 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:16,520 -Raphael Rowe? -Yes. 420 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,640 [Joz in Tagalog] You'll go with Cordero. Cordero! 421 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:24,840 I've been allocated to Dorm 8, run by the Bahala Na gang, 422 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:27,720 but it doesn't look like J.R. is being sent there. 423 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,920 You have to see the worry on his face, actually, that he's not been called yet. 424 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:33,680 You're not going to Dorm 8? 425 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:35,680 He's not called you? 426 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:37,480 -I don't think so. -No? 427 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:38,920 -I don't know. -Okay. 428 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:41,840 -Good luck, man. -Good luck, man. 429 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:43,920 [Joz in Tagalog] Let's go. Let's go now. 430 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:53,360 I'm led into Dorm 8, 431 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:57,680 home of the notorious Bahala Na gang, who ironically 432 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,800 run much of the drug crime that put many of the men in here. 433 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:09,240 Once inside, the gang leader spells out the rules to all of us new inmates. 434 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:14,120 [Arsenio in Tagalog] Comrade. What is the only thing that we ask of you? 435 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:17,680 Behave as a person so that we will not have a problem. 436 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,760 If you are carrying a heavy problem with our comrades or with other groups, 437 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:24,880 you inform me as mayores, 438 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,880 and we will act on it. 439 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:30,840 Do you understand, fellow inmates? 440 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,280 Love, brotherhood, that is all that matters now. 441 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:36,440 [Rowe] I've never come across that before. 442 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:42,000 They've been given the responsibility to control each other. 443 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:45,240 And they keep going on about this respect and discipline, 444 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,640 something that they've come up with themselves. 445 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,040 There are no prison guards 446 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:53,880 in this dormitory. 447 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:55,200 [indistinct chattering] 448 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:58,880 The rules seem to be saying, "We're a brotherhood, 449 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:02,040 and this place is run by a gang." 450 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:07,840 I haven't even had a chance to see my new cell 451 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:11,040 before Arsenio puts me to work. 452 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,560 Hey. Good evening. My name is Roger. 453 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,960 [in mixed English and Tagalog] Can you help me to help in the kitchen? 454 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:22,120 [Rowe] Okay. 455 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,800 I'm joining Roger's team of kitchen porters. 456 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:27,640 They collect food for Dorm 8 457 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:31,720 from the central prison kitchens three times a day. 458 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:37,640 I'm picking up the rice, and apparently, there's strict portion control. 459 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:39,680 Start counting per one people… 460 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:41,120 -[Rowe] Right. -…300 grams. 461 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:43,200 [Rowe] Three hundred grams. What else? 462 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:44,400 [in Tagalog] At lunch… 463 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:48,280 [in English] rice and one piece chicken. 464 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:49,720 Okay. 465 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:52,400 [Roger] Can you… 466 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:55,200 [Rowe] Oh, I've got to do the heavy lifting. Of course. 467 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:58,360 Damn, this is heavy, man. Oh! 468 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:03,680 We carry the food back for all the waiting prisoners in my dorm. 469 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:04,960 [man clamoring] 470 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:07,760 [inmates chattering indistinctly] 471 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:16,120 [sighs] 472 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:19,120 When I was carrying the rice, the only thing on my mind 473 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,800 was not the weight. It was tripping over and spilling it so no one would get fed. 474 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:24,560 So I was quite nervous. 475 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:30,920 Is there a budget for all of the cooking? 476 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,240 [Roger] Seventy-five pesos, one person. 477 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:37,400 [Rowe] So it's about one dollar, 20 cents. Per person. Every day. 478 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:38,440 [Roger] Every day. 479 00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:42,200 With so little food and so many men, 480 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:45,120 we have to weigh out the portions very carefully, 481 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,760 so no one is left without at the end of the line. 482 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:50,080 [Roger] Over. 483 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:51,560 -Over. -[Roger] 300 grams. 484 00:25:54,120 --> 00:25:55,040 Good. 485 00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:56,040 [Rowe] Okay. 486 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:57,920 Where is the vegetables? 487 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,160 -[Roger] Chop suey. -[Rowe] Where? Okay. 488 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:02,800 Okay, you're welcome. 489 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:04,080 Thank you. 490 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:06,400 -Thank you, my friend, Raphael. -Yes. Okay. 491 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:11,320 With the rice dished out, I'm joining cell boss Arsenio 492 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,240 to find out if it really is true 493 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,520 that it's his gang, not the guards, in charge here. 494 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:19,160 [meows] 495 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:20,680 How does this place work? 496 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,040 Because you don't have any prison guards here. 497 00:26:23,120 --> 00:26:25,040 [Arsenio in English] We maintain discipline, 498 00:26:25,120 --> 00:26:26,840 because they obey our rules. 499 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:30,480 Gang leaders, they must obey me. 500 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:32,720 Rules and regulations in this dorm. 501 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:33,840 And if they don't? 502 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:35,440 We give them sanctions. 503 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:39,960 We have, uh, many sanctions, to clean around, 504 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:43,840 uh, starting the morning up to the evening. 505 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,440 [Rowe] If they don't follow the rules, they get sanctioned. 506 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:48,280 If they did not obey… 507 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:53,680 uh, we can bring them to the office of the BJMP. 508 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:54,800 Okay. 509 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:55,840 And… 510 00:26:57,320 --> 00:26:59,480 [in Tagalog] they take care of it. They will… 511 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:02,640 [in English] They are the one who will discipline that person. 512 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,840 But criminal gangs aren't known for being benevolent 513 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,160 to members who don't toe the line. 514 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:13,880 Other prisoners are scared of the gang leaders because of the violence. 515 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,800 Maybe the past gang leaders. 516 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:21,400 We help each other, especially when there is hate 517 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:25,720 or there is a problem about their family. 518 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:30,400 [in Tagalog] We can also help financially. 519 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:37,240 Even outside, our fellow inmates or gangmates… 520 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:39,120 [in English] they help us. 521 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:44,520 [Rowe] I'm starting to discover that the context of gang 522 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:46,400 is very different here. 523 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:52,160 There are no prison guards in this dormitory monitoring, 524 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:55,520 supervising, or disciplining these prisoners. 525 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:57,200 They do it themselves. 526 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:00,600 But precisely because of this control, 527 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,040 there's nowhere to hide for the inmates. 528 00:28:03,120 --> 00:28:04,160 If anything, 529 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:07,600 it could be harder than when the authorities are in charge. 530 00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:11,000 Tomorrow, I want to find out what it means 531 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:14,320 for the average prisoner when the gangs are king. 532 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:22,720 It's nearly 10:00 p.m., 533 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:24,880 time for me to head to my cell. 534 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:29,560 Like in my first dorm, all the men who don't have gang rank or money 535 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,840 to buy space sleep on the floor. 536 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:36,280 I can sit here? 537 00:28:36,360 --> 00:28:39,000 Janard is the night watchman. 538 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,160 He does this job for Arsenio, 539 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:44,200 as he doesn't have any money to pay the gang. 540 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:47,320 And can anybody sleep wherever they want to sleep, 541 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:51,240 or is everybody in their space and that's their space? 542 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:54,200 [in Tagalog] Me. I'm the one who decides where they stay. 543 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:57,320 Is there any space on the floor for any new person? 544 00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:00,720 There's still a few spaces. 545 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:06,240 Looks like every inch of space is taken up by somebody sleeping on the floor, 546 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:08,360 but you're not sleeping on the floor. 547 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:12,720 I watch everyone and their stuff. 548 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:18,000 I'm just checking that everyone is safe 549 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:23,560 and everything is safe in case there's an emergency. 550 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:27,560 What sort of things do you see at night that happens, 551 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:29,320 that's not supposed to happen? 552 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:34,640 Sometimes, things go missing… 553 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:40,040 or people run out of places to sleep. 554 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:42,680 [pensive music plays] 555 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,240 [Rowe] I just can't believe my eyes. 556 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,720 It's just absolutely crazy. 557 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:57,680 Every space on the floor, upstairs, downstairs, in every corner, 558 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:02,480 there are grown men trying to squeeze next to each other, 559 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:05,520 over each other, to go to sleep. 560 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:09,280 I mean, it's better than Dorm 4, 561 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:11,600 but it's still so claustrophobic. 562 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:15,120 The simple things that we take for granted 563 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:17,440 have been taken away from these men, 564 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:20,560 especially one of our most prized possessions: 565 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:22,760 privacy. 566 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:25,360 [pensive music continues] 567 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:43,000 [tense music plays] 568 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:51,000 It's my first full day in the Bahala Na gang dorm. 569 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:54,120 I'm amazed how organized this place is, 570 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:57,360 given that it's run by the prisoners themselves. 571 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:01,680 But I want to know what it's like for ordinary prisoners 572 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:05,320 living under the control of a criminal gang. 573 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:08,640 A fellow inmate has offered to show me around. 574 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,600 -How you doing? Raphael. What's your name? -I'm Jin Ragan. 575 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:13,360 Jin Ragan. 576 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,040 -How long have you been in this prison? -Um… 577 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:22,800 Eight months? Oh, nine months. 578 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:23,840 -Nine months. -Yeah. 579 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:25,640 -Is it your first time? -No. 580 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:27,920 No. You're… before? 581 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,040 I am… ten times. 582 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,160 -You've been in prison ten times? -Yeah. 583 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:35,280 -Why? -Because, um… First case, murder. 584 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:38,000 You've been in prison for murder already? 585 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:40,480 And then second case, robbery holdup. 586 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:45,120 And then third, fourth, drugs. 587 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:48,040 Fifth, robbery, robber snatching. 588 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:50,400 [in Tagalog] It's all about drugs, all drugs. 589 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:51,680 [Rowe] Who did you kill? 590 00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:53,800 [in English] Two gangster. 591 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:54,920 [Rowe] A enemy. 592 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:58,200 Enemy gangster, yeah. In a drive-by and then I killed him. 593 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:03,600 Jin offers to show me what money and rank can buy in this dormitory, 594 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:06,400 starting with the gang boss' quarters. 595 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:09,920 This is, uh, the mayores' room. 596 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:11,560 [Rowe] Okay, can I have a look? 597 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:17,360 [Jin in Tagalog] He's our father in charge of the Bahala Na Gang. 598 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:21,840 [Rowe] This is the best I've seen in the whole of this prison. 599 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:24,000 This is a palace. 600 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:27,640 He has his own personal TV, 601 00:32:27,720 --> 00:32:30,320 enough space for a small double bed. 602 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:32,360 He's been rewarded very well. 603 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:34,600 Why does he have this and no one else? 604 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:39,520 We chose him because he was a good friend. He never gave up on us. 605 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:42,480 He is our choice. We put him there. We voted for him. 606 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:48,120 And the trusted lieutenants of the gang are also rewarded 607 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:49,920 with much better cells 608 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:51,600 than all the other prisoners. 609 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:57,280 This is what we call kubol. These cells are just for ten people. 610 00:32:57,880 --> 00:32:59,880 [Rowe] How do you earn this room then? 611 00:32:59,960 --> 00:33:04,320 These are just given to us by the gang boss in charge. 612 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:05,960 -Bye. -[Jin speaks indistinctly] 613 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:10,040 And because the prison is so short of staff, 614 00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:12,600 the gang run courses for their members. 615 00:33:12,680 --> 00:33:14,400 -[Rowe] Here? -This, study room. 616 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:17,200 [man speaks indistinctly] 617 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:21,720 [in Tagalog] Those who don't know how to read and write 618 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:28,640 attend courses taught by prisoners here. 619 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:36,320 One of Dorm 8's star inmates, who has been taught to read and write 620 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:38,920 by the gang members, is Suzuki. 621 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:42,360 -[in English] Famous rapper in the jail. -Okay. 622 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:45,400 [rapping in Tagalog] ♪ Many say that jail is hell ♪ 623 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:47,400 ♪ Prisoners are humans Who act like demons ♪ 624 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:49,040 ♪ It is painful, it's hard to accept ♪ 625 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:51,360 ♪There are so many here In the place to be ♪ 626 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:56,520 ♪ I think quickly I will become Like a nightmare in your dream ♪ 627 00:33:58,120 --> 00:33:59,240 -Bravo. -[Jin chuckles] 628 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:00,960 [inmates applauding] 629 00:34:01,040 --> 00:34:03,560 [in Tagalog] I learned how to read and write 630 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:07,720 with the help of my fellow prisoners. 631 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:11,320 How long have you been in Manila Jail? 632 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,080 I go back and forth here, but now it's been a month. 633 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:16,560 You sound like you enjoy coming back and forth. 634 00:34:16,640 --> 00:34:20,200 Being free from here is a vacation. Jail is our real home. 635 00:34:20,720 --> 00:34:23,680 To say that prison is your house… 636 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:26,960 is sad to hear. 637 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:30,760 Surely, you could have a better life outside than you can in here. 638 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:32,640 Nobody helps us. 639 00:34:32,720 --> 00:34:35,320 My family doesn't have money. My wife doesn't have money. 640 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:39,320 So, how do you make money in here? Do you make money in here? 641 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:42,280 Yes, I have a business lending money. 642 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:44,880 Do you make good money from this business? 643 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:49,280 It can be frustrating because sometimes people cannot pay. 644 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:52,960 So, what happens if somebody can't afford to pay you it back? 645 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:57,080 We can't do anything about it. If you hurt them, you will have a problem. 646 00:34:57,160 --> 00:34:59,960 Thank you for sharing your rap, man. It was really good. 647 00:35:00,040 --> 00:35:01,640 It was nice to meet you, man. 648 00:35:01,720 --> 00:35:03,040 Take that skill outside. 649 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:04,760 Use it outside, not in here. 650 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:06,760 I can't promise you. 651 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:14,080 I was shocked and saddened. 652 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:17,080 This is what Suzuki considers home. 653 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:18,840 But he can't cope out there. 654 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:20,600 But he's very proud of the fact 655 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:23,000 that he learned to read and write in prison, 656 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:26,520 and he's gonna go out with something he didn't have before. 657 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:29,040 I think that's the most important point. 658 00:35:29,120 --> 00:35:32,040 They are working together to survive. 659 00:35:32,640 --> 00:35:34,200 To educate themselves. 660 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:36,880 And that is impressive. 661 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:39,200 [pensive music plays] 662 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:56,440 [moody music plays] 663 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:01,000 Despite the apparent calm in this prison, 664 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:06,640 the Bahala Na gang is one of several rival criminal gangs in here. 665 00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:10,080 And just like everywhere else in the world, 666 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:13,400 when gangs fall out, violence erupts. 667 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:21,200 Six months ago, war broke out between two rival gangs in this prison. 668 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:23,760 Thirty-two prisoners were injured, 669 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:28,080 and the Sputnik gang murdered two of the BCJ gang. 670 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:30,360 [indistinct chattering] 671 00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:37,320 I'm Raphael. How are you doing? 672 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:39,760 -So, you're from the BCJ? -Yes, sir. 673 00:36:39,840 --> 00:36:42,720 Two of Ryan's gang, the BCJ, 674 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:47,000 were murdered by their rivals, the Sputnik gang, in the riot. 675 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:48,040 [Rowe] Sputnik. 676 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:49,720 [Ryan] The fight happened here. 677 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:52,200 -[Rowe] Everything's fine now? -It's fine now. 678 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:55,640 [in Tagalog] Sometimes, it gets intense, but we fix it right away. 679 00:36:55,720 --> 00:36:57,960 [Rowe] What happens when they get aggressive? 680 00:36:58,040 --> 00:36:59,880 [Ryan] We communicate. 681 00:36:59,960 --> 00:37:01,440 We get ahead of it. 682 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:04,560 We talk it out and immediately try to resolve it. 683 00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:08,640 Okay. You show me… Introduce me to the mayore upstairs. 684 00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:14,160 Ryan has invited me along to his regular meeting 685 00:37:14,240 --> 00:37:18,240 with the Sputnik gang leaders, Ferdi and Jonathan. 686 00:37:18,920 --> 00:37:22,880 [Rowe] What can you tell me about what happened on that day? 687 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:28,320 [in Tagalog] What I saw was really like war. 688 00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:30,080 I couldn't stop my comrades. 689 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:35,880 Did the BCJ then seek revenge for the death of two of their comrades? 690 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:37,440 [Ferdi] No, sir, not anymore. 691 00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:41,000 When it happened, we took care of the needs of those the dead left behind, 692 00:37:41,080 --> 00:37:43,600 the funeral and the expenses during their wake. 693 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:46,320 The groups are set aside now. 694 00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:48,560 We are brothers. That event became a lesson. 695 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:50,760 Even a small problem, we talk about it. 696 00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:52,640 A misunderstanding, we fix it. 697 00:37:52,720 --> 00:37:55,480 They are responsible to fix their comrades' problems. 698 00:37:55,560 --> 00:37:56,720 It's the same with us. 699 00:37:57,960 --> 00:37:59,640 Okay, thank you for sharing that. 700 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:04,160 The death of two prisoners is a stark reminder 701 00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:08,680 that this, and these conditions… 702 00:38:09,720 --> 00:38:12,240 have a volatile tendency. 703 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:15,640 So the threat is always present, 704 00:38:15,720 --> 00:38:17,200 the threat is always real… 705 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:20,080 that what happened a few months ago, 706 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:22,240 where two men lost their lives, 707 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:24,480 could happen again. 708 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:27,120 [tense music plays] 709 00:38:33,240 --> 00:38:36,960 This afternoon, I'm catching up with my dormmate Jin. 710 00:38:37,040 --> 00:38:38,840 [in English] Give him the ball. Okay. 711 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:42,120 [inmates cheering, applaud] 712 00:38:43,560 --> 00:38:44,440 [Jin chuckles] 713 00:38:44,520 --> 00:38:47,000 One of the problems of overcrowding 714 00:38:47,080 --> 00:38:50,720 is that there's no space for inmates to let off steam. 715 00:38:52,720 --> 00:38:56,520 But the Bahala Na gang has a solution for that. 716 00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:00,120 Every week, they lay on an exercise class, 717 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:02,120 and the whole block joins in. 718 00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:03,800 [upbeat music plays] 719 00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:05,640 -[inmates chanting] -[Jin] Clap. 720 00:39:08,480 --> 00:39:10,520 -[Jin] Clap. -[inmates chanting] 721 00:39:11,120 --> 00:39:12,240 Clap. Come on. 722 00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:13,840 [instructor] Are you enjoying? 723 00:39:13,920 --> 00:39:16,240 -[cheering] Yeah! -[instructor] Are you happy? 724 00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:17,680 [all cheering] Yes! 725 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:19,560 [all chanting, laughing] 726 00:39:19,640 --> 00:39:23,280 I've never seen a prison guard dance on duty before. 727 00:39:23,360 --> 00:39:24,440 [chanting continues] 728 00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:29,520 [all cheering] 729 00:39:29,600 --> 00:39:32,160 -[instructor] Are you happy? -[all cheering] Yeah! 730 00:39:32,240 --> 00:39:34,840 -[all applauding] -[instructor] All right. 731 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:36,240 [inmates chanting] More! 732 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:39,480 No more for me, man. That's me, done. 733 00:39:39,560 --> 00:39:42,080 [instructor] Long live the Filipino community! 734 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:43,320 [inmates cheer] 735 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:46,840 [in Tagalog] It helps us to forget our problems in prison. 736 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:52,360 The Zumba keeps us inspired and stops us from worrying about our families, 737 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:54,400 from thinking about our loved ones. 738 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:56,920 Okay, man, look, good seeing you again. 739 00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:59,880 In a place that can often be quite tense 740 00:39:59,960 --> 00:40:01,200 and depressing, 741 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:06,320 it's amazing what a little bit of music, a little bit of atmosphere… 742 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:10,520 and a little bit of participation can do. 743 00:40:11,960 --> 00:40:16,160 It makes for a much less volatile environment. 744 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:21,080 [tense music plays] 745 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:28,640 It's my sixth day inside one of the most overcrowded prisons in the world. 746 00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:32,160 Today, I'm swapping sides and joining the guards 747 00:40:32,240 --> 00:40:36,440 for a cell block search with Senior Officer Hakabe 748 00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:40,080 and Head of Security, Inspector Malamata. 749 00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:42,640 And what are you hoping to find in these searches? 750 00:40:42,720 --> 00:40:45,200 Illegal contrabands, drugs. 751 00:40:45,280 --> 00:40:47,120 Most of the prison is run 752 00:40:47,720 --> 00:40:50,600 with this shared governance approach. 753 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:53,480 Is it… Is that also… 754 00:40:54,160 --> 00:40:56,320 involved in how you carry out your searches? 755 00:40:56,880 --> 00:41:01,040 So we basically empower those cell leaders, 756 00:41:01,120 --> 00:41:05,320 and become our shared governance or our partners, 757 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:09,080 so that they will be the one managing their whole cell. 758 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:10,520 [instructor] Right! 759 00:41:10,600 --> 00:41:15,560 They are so understaffed here that the prison drafts in trainee guards 760 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:18,520 to help them do dorm searches safely. 761 00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:23,040 The new recruits are gonna conduct their search here today. 762 00:41:23,120 --> 00:41:25,600 Um, they seem very militaristic. 763 00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:28,520 It must be a warning sign to all the prisoners 764 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:32,880 when they see this line of officers 765 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:37,120 in black T-shirts and combat shorts entering their dormitory 766 00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:39,960 that a search is about to take place. 767 00:41:41,080 --> 00:41:44,240 First, the inmates are ordered outside. 768 00:41:44,320 --> 00:41:47,560 Searching the prisoners before they're removed from the dormitory 769 00:41:47,640 --> 00:41:50,040 to make sure they're not taking the contraband 770 00:41:50,120 --> 00:41:51,720 they're looking for outside. 771 00:41:51,800 --> 00:41:56,720 Unbelievably, the prison guards ask the gang boss, T, 772 00:41:56,800 --> 00:41:59,000 for permission to search the dorm. 773 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:02,040 It seems that the responsibility 774 00:42:02,120 --> 00:42:05,560 for keeping the prison free of contraband is shared. 775 00:42:06,280 --> 00:42:08,040 [Rowe] Does this happen very often, 776 00:42:08,120 --> 00:42:13,160 where the guards come in and they search the dormitory? 777 00:42:13,240 --> 00:42:15,920 It happens often, 778 00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:24,000 usually two to three times a month. The warden told us, the mayores, 779 00:42:24,080 --> 00:42:25,880 we need to clean up the dormitories. 780 00:42:25,960 --> 00:42:28,000 All mayores are given the responsibility 781 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:31,520 to clean the City Jail, to make it drug free. 782 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:35,440 [Rowe] How do you feel about that, and how do the prisoners feel about that? 783 00:42:35,520 --> 00:42:40,120 [T] I am a little nervous, because they might find something. 784 00:42:40,200 --> 00:42:42,200 [Rowe] What do you mean, you get nervous? 785 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:46,560 [T] I will be the one at risk. As their mayores, 786 00:42:46,640 --> 00:42:49,480 it is my responsibility. No one should disobey me. 787 00:42:49,560 --> 00:42:52,840 If there is someone who doesn't do what I say, 788 00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:54,840 I surrender them to the prison guards. 789 00:42:57,040 --> 00:43:00,280 The search is over, and the guards examine the haul. 790 00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:03,520 It's just extraordinary in this prison, 791 00:43:03,600 --> 00:43:05,960 a criminal gang leader, not the guards, 792 00:43:06,040 --> 00:43:09,200 is the one that is really keeping this dorm clean. 793 00:43:10,720 --> 00:43:13,240 -[Rowe] This is the search spoils. -[Malamata] Yes. 794 00:43:13,320 --> 00:43:18,960 What would you say is the most serious piece of contraband? 795 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:21,760 -[Malamata] This small pen. -Are they not allowed pens? 796 00:43:21,840 --> 00:43:25,040 Yes, because they can use this to stab. 797 00:43:25,840 --> 00:43:27,360 -Right. Okay. -For a PDL. 798 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:29,280 So that, uh, they're not-- 799 00:43:29,360 --> 00:43:32,000 [Rowe] You consider a pen to be a dangerous weapon? 800 00:43:32,080 --> 00:43:35,040 Yes, because they can use it as a deadly weapon. 801 00:43:35,120 --> 00:43:38,000 -But this is… This, can I touch it? -[Malamata] Yes. 802 00:43:38,080 --> 00:43:40,320 But this is surely more dangerous than a pen. 803 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:43,680 -Yes, yes. It is also a dangerous one. -[Rowe] Okay. 804 00:43:45,160 --> 00:43:47,400 Searching prisoners 805 00:43:47,480 --> 00:43:50,600 is commonplace in prisons around the world. 806 00:43:50,680 --> 00:43:53,400 I spoke to the main man in the dorm, 807 00:43:53,480 --> 00:43:56,720 and he said that he himself and his team 808 00:43:56,800 --> 00:43:59,320 themselves carry out searches of prisoners. 809 00:43:59,400 --> 00:44:00,360 Unheard of. 810 00:44:00,440 --> 00:44:03,000 He was more concerned about the consequences 811 00:44:03,080 --> 00:44:04,960 of anything being found, 812 00:44:05,040 --> 00:44:07,560 either directly on him or his dorm. 813 00:44:07,640 --> 00:44:09,080 [speaking Tagalog] 814 00:44:12,400 --> 00:44:16,120 There's a lot at stake for the dorm leaders like T. 815 00:44:16,200 --> 00:44:19,600 Step out of line, and the guards will replace them, 816 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:24,000 and that means losing all the privileges that come with their rank. 817 00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:29,400 Despite the severe lack of money, 818 00:44:29,480 --> 00:44:32,720 the prison do run some rehabilitation courses 819 00:44:32,800 --> 00:44:34,320 to help prisoners break away 820 00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:36,360 from drug crime. 821 00:44:40,080 --> 00:44:42,080 -[Rowe] How are you doing? -Fine, thanks. 822 00:44:42,160 --> 00:44:45,840 This course is being overseen by guard Achapero. 823 00:44:45,920 --> 00:44:48,240 This is what we call the livelihood program. 824 00:44:48,320 --> 00:44:50,680 They will do massage therapy. 825 00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:53,440 Then when they're released from this jail, 826 00:44:54,080 --> 00:44:56,120 they will have an extra income. 827 00:44:56,200 --> 00:45:00,040 And to become also law-abiding and productive citizens. 828 00:45:00,600 --> 00:45:02,760 [in Tagalog] First, sir, sit there. 829 00:45:02,840 --> 00:45:05,040 -[Rowe] Okay. -And remove your shirt. 830 00:45:05,120 --> 00:45:06,080 Remove my shirt. 831 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:12,280 [Edison] Cold pressure. 832 00:45:12,360 --> 00:45:15,040 -[Rowe] You feel the bubble. Like a knot. -Yeah. 833 00:45:15,120 --> 00:45:17,320 -How long have you been doing it? -Five days. 834 00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:19,560 How long have you been in prison? 835 00:45:20,520 --> 00:45:22,600 -Almost one year, sir. -Almost one year. 836 00:45:22,680 --> 00:45:24,560 What are your charges? 837 00:45:24,640 --> 00:45:25,600 Drugs, sir. 838 00:45:26,160 --> 00:45:27,360 What drug was it? 839 00:45:28,720 --> 00:45:29,640 Shabu. 840 00:45:29,720 --> 00:45:31,000 Shabu as in meth. 841 00:45:32,600 --> 00:45:34,320 And why did that happen to you? 842 00:45:35,120 --> 00:45:36,760 [Edison] Because of the quota. 843 00:45:37,600 --> 00:45:40,760 It's widely alleged Filipino police 844 00:45:40,840 --> 00:45:44,920 have to make a minimum number of drug arrests every day, 845 00:45:45,000 --> 00:45:49,200 causing corrupt officers to set up innocent people. 846 00:45:50,440 --> 00:45:54,160 We were stopped by the police, sir. We were just riding our motorcycle. 847 00:45:55,120 --> 00:45:57,280 -Did you have drugs on you? -No, sir. 848 00:45:57,360 --> 00:46:00,160 They didn't get anything from us. They just planted it. 849 00:46:01,640 --> 00:46:06,600 When I was arrested, they said, "Just confess, 850 00:46:06,680 --> 00:46:09,480 and you will only get a six month sentence." 851 00:46:09,560 --> 00:46:13,480 So, innocent men like you are just taken off of the street and put in prison? 852 00:46:14,240 --> 00:46:16,600 Yes, sir. A lot of us have a case like this. 853 00:46:17,480 --> 00:46:21,760 Sir, even if we get angry, we're stuck here. 854 00:46:21,840 --> 00:46:23,360 We just accept it. 855 00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:26,280 [Rowe] So you think this will offer you another opportunity. 856 00:46:26,360 --> 00:46:27,600 [in English] Yes. 857 00:46:27,680 --> 00:46:30,440 [in Tagalog] If I go to another country, I can use this. 858 00:46:32,080 --> 00:46:33,920 [Edison] All right, powder, sir. 859 00:46:35,360 --> 00:46:38,720 [Rowe] That was very good. So you're learning well. 860 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:43,680 Your story is sad, if it's true. 861 00:46:43,760 --> 00:46:45,960 That is sad to hear. 862 00:46:46,040 --> 00:46:48,600 -Good luck, thanks for the massage. -Thank you, sir. 863 00:46:48,680 --> 00:46:51,880 If the police really are planting drugs on people 864 00:46:51,960 --> 00:46:55,440 to meet arrest targets as Edison alleges, 865 00:46:55,520 --> 00:46:58,200 then it's no wonder this prison is so full. 866 00:46:58,880 --> 00:47:02,160 And well-intentioned rehabilitation like this 867 00:47:02,240 --> 00:47:06,160 will struggle to have any impact on the overcrowding. 868 00:47:06,920 --> 00:47:09,840 Tomorrow, I'm going to get out. 869 00:47:09,920 --> 00:47:12,360 Thousands more will not. 870 00:47:17,840 --> 00:47:19,320 [mellow music plays] 871 00:47:21,680 --> 00:47:24,680 It's my final day in Manila City Jail. 872 00:47:28,720 --> 00:47:32,680 With so much overcrowding and so few resources, 873 00:47:32,760 --> 00:47:36,680 I want to understand what the future holds for this jail. 874 00:47:37,440 --> 00:47:38,400 Aye aye. 875 00:47:39,400 --> 00:47:42,120 -Sir. Good afternoon. -Warden Latoza, nice to meet you. 876 00:47:42,200 --> 00:47:46,320 I'm meeting with the prison director, Warden Latoza. 877 00:47:46,400 --> 00:47:48,880 It's obvious to me from what I've seen 878 00:47:48,960 --> 00:47:51,200 that there is an issue around overcrowding. 879 00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:57,120 Ideally, this facility should only cater to 1,200 people. 880 00:47:57,200 --> 00:48:00,960 But now we are having almost 5,000. That's a challenge for us. 881 00:48:01,480 --> 00:48:06,600 Seventy-two percent of people detained here are facing drug charges. 882 00:48:06,680 --> 00:48:11,880 Forty to 50 percent are reoffenders, and that's a big problem for us, 883 00:48:12,480 --> 00:48:16,560 because sometimes when people who don't have a sense of family outside, 884 00:48:16,640 --> 00:48:18,680 when they get out, they would rather, 885 00:48:18,760 --> 00:48:23,600 "Oh, I want to commit crime. I don't have anything to do to survive." 886 00:48:23,680 --> 00:48:27,960 "I can still commit crime because when I am caught, I go back to jail." 887 00:48:28,040 --> 00:48:30,320 "My family is there, I have a gang inside." 888 00:48:30,400 --> 00:48:34,160 It's a vicious cycle of people going in jail. 889 00:48:34,240 --> 00:48:36,840 -That's a sad state of affairs. -That's a sad… Yeah. 890 00:48:37,440 --> 00:48:41,160 Shared governance is something I've heard around the prison quite frequently. 891 00:48:41,240 --> 00:48:44,320 How did it come about, and why is it necessary? 892 00:48:44,400 --> 00:48:47,720 Actually, the shared governance concept here in the jail 893 00:48:47,800 --> 00:48:51,800 is just the coping mechanism to the inadequacy of resources that we have. 894 00:48:51,880 --> 00:48:56,440 We could not have persons to manage in the dormitories. 895 00:48:56,520 --> 00:48:58,200 We have 14 dormitories. 896 00:48:58,280 --> 00:49:02,200 If we are going to put in personnel, staff, 897 00:49:02,760 --> 00:49:07,640 we don't have any guards to be designated in the towers. 898 00:49:08,200 --> 00:49:12,360 And what if they get over the fences, and they escape? 899 00:49:13,400 --> 00:49:14,920 [Rowe] Why do you do it, then, 900 00:49:15,000 --> 00:49:17,920 to do the job that you do, under the extreme conditions? 901 00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:20,600 At the end of the day, we are all human beings. 902 00:49:20,680 --> 00:49:25,600 These people also are victims, sometimes, of social injustices outside. 903 00:49:25,680 --> 00:49:28,720 My contribution now, as a person, 904 00:49:28,800 --> 00:49:33,560 is to help these people know if I have helped a person to renew his life, 905 00:49:33,640 --> 00:49:36,280 to have his character, uh, 906 00:49:36,360 --> 00:49:40,280 develop, then probably when they get out… 907 00:49:41,120 --> 00:49:42,520 they will not commit crime. 908 00:49:42,600 --> 00:49:44,440 And I don't want my children 909 00:49:44,520 --> 00:49:46,640 -to be victims of these people. -[Rowe] Mm. 910 00:49:47,280 --> 00:49:49,920 -Thank you. It's been very interesting. -Yes, sir. 911 00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:52,040 -Good luck with what you're doing. -Yes, sir. 912 00:49:53,920 --> 00:49:56,960 It's obvious the warden would like to do more, 913 00:49:57,040 --> 00:50:01,400 but with the sheer number of prisoners and such limited budget, 914 00:50:01,480 --> 00:50:03,880 the prison is overwhelmed. 915 00:50:06,240 --> 00:50:08,920 This is the end of my time in Manila City Jail, 916 00:50:09,000 --> 00:50:11,440 and it's clear to me that President Duterte 917 00:50:11,520 --> 00:50:15,040 and his government's uncompromising war on drugs 918 00:50:15,120 --> 00:50:17,680 has exacerbated overcrowding 919 00:50:17,760 --> 00:50:21,560 in what is already one of the most congested, underfunded, 920 00:50:21,640 --> 00:50:24,400 and primitive prisons I've ever seen. 921 00:50:24,480 --> 00:50:28,480 But despite this, management, gangs, and the inmate population 922 00:50:28,560 --> 00:50:33,040 seem to be coping with this approach to shared governance. 923 00:50:33,120 --> 00:50:36,440 For conditions to improve and rehabilitation to work, 924 00:50:36,520 --> 00:50:40,240 this place desperately needs investment and resources. 925 00:50:40,320 --> 00:50:43,080 [evocative music plays]