Shepherds of lost sheep also wanting

Old Cabadiangan used to have Ingko Turoy, an old “meriko” or medicine-man and a philosopher about life and nature. His wise thoughts were usually buttressed with clichés, such as, “Ang maayo ug maalam hilom ug lawom; ang dautan ug mabaw nga kaalam sabaan ug lingas; apan, ang salapi maoy kinasabaan ug garaung daku.”

In other words, money not only talks, but really talks aloud, and in a boastful manner. Moreover, money is the real power that controls society, whether private enterprises solely, or the public governance. In fact, the significant factor for one to run for public office is enough money for the campaign sorties; otherwise, even if eager to run, a frustrated candidate would say: “Maayo untang idagan, apan way kwarta.”

The fusion of money and political clout that rules the roost in politics is the ideal combination to forge power. Typical is the case of Batangas ex-Governor Antonio Leviste who, as “living out” prisoner in Bilibid for homicide, was a very privileged prisoner. He no longer wore the standard orange prisoner attire, had his own “rest house” by a pool surrounded by verdant foliage was his nipa shack, with his own pantry and, most of all, unguarded.

For several times in the dead of the night, Leviste got out unescorted from confinement and whose return unknown when he came back from outside “furlough.” Succinctly put, Leviste could not have been that “lucky” if not for his money and political clout. What worsens such irregularity, prison guards and officials allegedly made a living out of the granted privileges to “living prisoners”, about 200 in number.

In the criminal justice system, there are remedial procedures to observe, like, police investigation, the city/provincial prosecutor’s prosecution process for filing Information, then the court trial leading to acquittal, or conviction and sentencing, and the last is incarceration if so convicted. These are steps or pillars that have to be observed and, any breach, or corruption, or whatever failures or flaws, corrupts the dispensation of the justice system.

Obviously, the case of Leviste who got convicted for homicide in killing his political aide Rafael delas Alas for which he was sentenced to 6 yrs to 12 years penalty, could now be imposed in its maximum degree, owing to his evasion of sentence.

Other prison institutions like the Bilibid have similar situations of irregularities. The confined prisoners could be much beyond their normal accommodation facilities, or packed like canned sardines. And these over-congestions breed chaos, confusion, and a lot of disciplinary violations. In the Cebu City jail, for instance, there used to be the problem concerning detention prisoner SPO1 Adonis Dumpit, concerning his safety. One wonders though, whether or not the “living out” status of certain prisoners are also adopted in city and provincial prison facilities, like that in Bilibid.

As of now, according to Bureau of Prisons Director Ernesto Diokno, about 10 prison guards and jail officials have already been sacked, especially the guards on duty at the time Leviste had been in and out of Bilibid Prison. This fiasco would still affect others, including Director Diokno himself, at least for command responsibility.

What is very obvious is the failure of discipline of the individual elements of the prison personnel, or may also be the failure of discipline of the entire prison custodial system.

Based on past events and investigations, it appears that the AFP or military service is wallowing in graft and corruption especially among the upper echelon. The PNP or the police that maintains peace and order are also involved in many irregularities. And now, just recently discovered but could have been long existing is that the custodial services of detention and convicted prisoners, are likewise tainted with graft and corruption.