The hurricane that devastated the island gave way to the prisoners of the penitentiary Leyte to go free. But they chose not to flee, saying, "Here we are not lacking anything."
The 583 prisoners in the jail of Leyte, Philippine's village located at the foot of a mountain at about ten kilometers from Tacloban and that it was razed to the ground during the devastating hurricane Haiyan, after visiting relatives, having buried their dead comrades, returned to Leyte on the door of a prison now in ruins.
"In fact there was not even the door but as if by magic all together, including the manager, we were able in the space of a few weeks to rebuild the prison and to go back to jail" is what told Alberto Encina, who is serving the life sentence for two murders committed twenty years ago, though he claims to be innocent, but he could not afford a lawyer, luxury for the few.
Encina and everyone else would have to flee without running the risk of being wanted by the security forces because 95% of the documents of prisoners was destroyed during the hurricane, and without a shred of evidence in writing, each of them may request at any time to leave the prison. The prisoners are well aware but they pretend nothing has happened and there's even those who, like Encina, find a good excuse just to stay behind bars. "After all the work we have done to rebuild Leyte would really be an injustice having to leave, and now it is some of us all."
"The Philippines is a very poor country - remember the inmate - for these reasons to stay in a cell, being able to eat three square meals a day, and enjoy some recreational activity, it becomes a privilege for the chosen few."
"Of those who are missing, we know that 15 inmates were killed during the escape overwhelmed by the hurricane - said George Gaditano, director of the prison - when it happened the imponderable there could be no distinction between convicts and guards. The terrible weather event has made us all the same, with the same desire to save us. "
Gaditano has not even had time to warn his superiors and the Ministry of Interior of the forced flight. The detainees have returned of their own accord within a few days.
"I was not impressed much. Reception conditions of our prisons are entirely human. "This is also confirmed Alphinor Serrano, 36, a native of nearby Tacloban, repeated arrests for car theft. With great pride shows a collection of Reader's Digest and recalls that "before entering Leyte I could not read nor write. Thanks to the books in the library are no longer illiterate, and even a car thief. "
Meanwhile, the "guests" of Leyte are preparing for the New Year celebration.
- Tags: Philippines penitentiary Leyte Tacloban hurricane Haiyan Alberto Encina George Gaditano director of the prison Ministry of Interior Alphinor Serrano Reader's Digest
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