An adventure...

[don2222]

Another friend of mine has a brother that is in prison here in the Phils.  I was invited to go with her to visit the brother.
The first thing you do is line up outside the gate and take a number.
When your number is called, they lead you into a small enclosed area
to search you. After that they stamp 3 stamps on your forearm, or only 2 stamps on your forearm, if you are a woman. Never did receive an explanation for the difference.
Anyway, then they open the main gate, and let you in. That's right, they just let you walk in with the general population of the prison. No special visitation areas or anything.  So here we go walking through the prison looking for the brother.  Of course, everyone knows my name. (Hey Joe!!). We find the bother and enter his cell, and sit down for our visit.
The brother is in jail for stealing a stereo, and I was told it would cost $800 to get him out.  Of course, if I wanted to pay the money, they would kindly let me.  If it were $50, I would be tempted to do it just for the good karma, but not $800.
To me, the cells look the same as any cheaper boarding house in the Phils.
One big room is divided into smaller rooms, and there is a sari-sari store right outside the  door. Surprisingly it was not at all intimidating.  Everyone wanted to talk to me, and, of course, ask me for money.  But, everyone was polite to me. They did seem shocked to see a kano visiting in the prison though!
To leave the prison, I just had to show the guard the 3 stamps on my forearm, and they opened the gate for me.
More adventure stories to come...

[Ray]

... in response to An adventure..., posted by don2222 on Apr 24, 2003

Don,

Was that by any chance the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center in Cebu? Did you happen to see Ruben Ecleo Jr. while you were there? They say if you bribe the guards you can have a live-in girlfriend and all kinds of other perks.

I was reading recently where Glo fired the entire jail staff on the spot for repeated corruption. I guess the local authorities had to scramble to find some replacements real fast before the inmates all wandered off (LOL).

Ray

[don2222]

... in response to Re: An adventure..., posted by Ray on Apr 24, 2003

Yes, it was the BBRC, and I did not see Ruben.
Yes, the BBRC has been reported in the papers here as the most corrupt prison in the Phils.  Supposedly anything at all was permitted in the past,if you had the pesos to pay for it.

Don