Looking over photos of the special detention cells reserved for Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile, one can see the gulf between the rich and poor, the haves and the have-nots.
We have elected officials accused of plunder and graft still managing to avail of every opportunity at their disposal to defend themselves on prime time TV and online, who can count on the country’s dinosaur-like justice system to drag their cases for several years beyond 2016, when presumably they can still make a run for public office.
On the other hand, we have convicts of no prominence who are caged in squalid, poorly ventilated cells whose only consolation is that most of them won’t face execution.
Photos of the special cells for the three senators show nothing new. Former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had special cells, too. The cells, which look more like dormitory rooms, are reserved for disgraced leaders who still command above-average quarters despite being convicted or tried on charges of bleeding the country’s coffers dry.
In other parts of the world, there are democratically-elected leaders who are jailed for corruption or forced into exile but aren’t treated like common criminals sent to rot in squalid prisons.
There are countries like China which executes former high-ranking officials or Japan, where disgraced officials resign quickly or commit suicide as a way of redeeming themselves in the eyes of society.
We don’t have that culture in the Philippines.
Powerful officials will use every means to stave off jail time or if it can’t be avoided, then treat their cells like extensions of their homes or offices.
We don’t expect the government to overhaul the country’s penal system overnight.
Can we realistically expect lawmakers, especially Revilla, Estrada and even Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who was jailed on rebellion charges, to enact legislation that would improve jail facilities to make imprisonment more bearable?
If privileges in jail extend to leaders in high office who dishonor the country, the least government can do is level the field a few inches for other inmates – the rest who are just trying to hold on to their humanity.
Don’t let the senators rub it in.
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