Overlay children in jail

This jail in the southern Philippines is like any other with its gaggle of murderers, rapists and thieves.

What sets it apart are the children…their air of innocence belying the fact that they’re convicted criminals.

The presence of these kids here contravenes all international covenants and the laws of the Philippines too…

Yet in the absence of dedicated juvenile facilities, the authorities say there’s simply nowhere else to house them.

Thommy in minors cell

Natsot

Thommy is 11 and a seasoned jailbird. It’s his third stretch behind bars…his first was at the age of 8.

GRAB – Thommy (PK Tape 2)

In: 17:54:30

Out: 17:54:44

SUBTITLED ENGLISH

I was abandoned by my mother and my foster Uncle encouraged me to steal. Whatever I stole I gave to him and in return he fed me.

PK tape 2

In: 18: 01:01

Out: 18: 01:45

Int: Why did you steal?

Thommy: I stole money because my Mum didn’t have any.

PK tape 2

In: 18:02:10

Out: 18:02:07

But I wouldn’t steal from the poor only from the rich and those with snobbish faces…I wouldn’t steal from those who look like my Aunties and Uncles.

Overlay street scenes Cebu

Thommy grew up here on the outskirts of Cebu City and plans to return to his family when he gets out of jail.

Yet it’s hard to see how home will be any better …a drunken mother, a violent father brawling in front of the camera while their son languishes in jail

GRAB – Thommy’s mother Annie and father fight scene in village house.

PRISON KIDS TAPE 8

In:1:31:38

Out: 1:31:48

Starts Do you

Ends: 166 for help

In: 1:49:06

Out: 1:50:33

Starts: He lifts

Ends: bad, bad, bad

SUBTITLED ENGLISH

Annie:

Do you remember what you did to Thommy? You made him lie down on the bed. You tied him up in chains. That is why I called 166 for help.

He lifts up Thommy and throws him out the window (shows action).

He would grab Thommy’s head and bash it against the wall, my son would scream for help but what could I do, if I help he bashes me too. I might be drunk but I am telling the truth. Thommy doesn’t want to see you anymore.I can’t stand this anymore. (To father) You’re bad bad bad.

GRAB PRISON KIDS TAPE 1

TOMMY TO CAMERA

In: 16:59:16

Out: 17:00:17

SUBTITLED ENGLISH

If we were treated well and cared for our parents we would not become like this..just like you were cared for well by your parents that explains what you are now. If we had been treated like you we would not have become thieves. Some would tell us to stop stealing but what can we do we are poor. We don’t understand why God chose us to be born poor but when I grow up I will change.

Kids in jail

Tommy’s one comfort is that he’s not alone…this friend spent his tenth birthday in jail…

GRAB ETSOY (PRISON KIDS TAPE 1)

In: 16:15:10

Out: 16:50:45

SUBTITLED ENGLISH

Int: What is your nickname?

E: Etsoy(freckles)

Int: Why is it Etsoy?

E: That is just what they call me.

Thommy: What were you doing before you came to prison?

E: I left home and lived on the streets. I learned to steal and got addicted to sniffing glue

Then there’s Danny who’s 9.. He and his brother Joseph were sent to jail with their friend Ben for stealing six cans of sardines

GRAB DANNY (PRISON KIDS TAPE 4)

In: 18:47:01

Out: 18:47:47

SUBTITLED ENGLISH

Danny: Our parents didn’t care for us. We go everywhere even to Foodland in search of food because of hunger. Our father would come after us to take us back home. He would smack me and chain my feet. It was my father who wanted us caught by the police.

GRAB JOSEPH (PRISON KIDS TAPE 4)

In: 18:48:44

Out: 18:49:31

SUBTITLED ENGLISH

Joseph: Our mother died of unhappiness. From when we are young until now, my father has not really changed. He gets drunk and is violent at home.

This saga of parental neglect is familiar the world over…the real scandal here, say child advocates, is that far from being rehabilitated, these kids are being schooled for a life of crime.

Esperanza Valenzona is 84…but active way beyond her years as a lawyer who represents the child prisoners in court

GRAB NANG SISING SHARE TAPE 10

In: 8:05:15

Out: 8:05:46

OVERLAY: PRISON SHOTS CHILDREN MIXING WITH ADULTS

N: The jail in the city is very congested but the greater problem is that there is no segregation between the adults and the minors. Now these adults some of them have been charged with heinous crimes – rape, robbery, murder and with these children associating freely with these adults you can just imagine. I’ve called it the “University of Crime”.

This dubious centre of learning is crammed with hardened criminals and their proteges. Originally designed for 200 prisoners, the complex now houses 1800.

While it’s against Philippines law to jail children with adults, the local authorities get round the regulations by housing the kids in separate cells.

Effectively though, it means nothing, for the door to the child cell here is left open at night and lascivious predators abound…so much so that many boys won’t sleep for fear of being raped

GRAB PRISON KIDS TAPE 11

In: 5:28:30

Out: 5:29:00

SUBTITLED ENGLISH

Thommy: There are 159 of us sleeping here. We are jam packed here especially at night. Some would even just stand.

GRAB TAPE 10 PRISON KIDS THOMMY

In: 4:56:24

Out: 4:57:24

SUBTITILED ENGLISH

It is a very desperate life here. There is not enough food. One bowl of rice is shared by 11 sometimes 15 people..

Adult prisoners here are given water to wash but not the children…they must wait for rain and the crudest of bath days

OVERLAY PRISON KIDS TAPE 13 RAIN SCENES AT 6:36

GRAB THOMMY PRISON KIDS TAPE

TAKING A BATH

In: 17:44:36

Out: 17:44:55

(Thought track)

SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH

Thommy: When it rains it is better because everyone can take a bath but sometimes our only clothes get wet and it is very cold especially at night

GRAB PRISON KIDS TAPE 13 DANNY FEELING COLD

In: 6:37:24

Out: 6:38:01

Int: Why are you crossing your arms?

Danny: I’m cold.

Int: Didn’t you have clothes when you came here?

D: They took away my clothes.

I:Who took away your clothes?

D: The prisoners took them away?

This is the one bright spot in the childrens’ lives…classes twice a week to learn to read and write.

The literacy program is run by a group calling itself the Share a Child Movement…founded by Esperanza Valenzone more than 20 years ago.

Since then, she and her daughter Nina – who’s also a lawyer – have helped educate more than 3000 children from the Cebu slums.

*GRAB SHARE TAPE 1

Valenzona interview on prison roof

In: 20:29:17

Out: 20:29:36

What we are trying to do is to influence the boys so when they come out of jail they will be better boys who are able to adjust better in to the community. So that they are assets instead of liabilities.

Asset or liability, the day has finally come to put Thommy to the test. He’s finally completed his sentence and is about to be released.

GRAB PRISON KIDS TAPE 13

THOMMY

In: 5:48:13

Out: 5:48:20

SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH

Int: How do you feel that you will soon be released?

Thommy: I am looking forward to going home. I miss my younger brothers and sisters very much because it has been four months since I have seen them.

It’s the task of a social worker from Share a Child to take Thommy back home. It’s to be a heartbreaking journey

GRAB TAPE 14 THOMMY RELEASE

In: 7: 03: 28

Out: 7:04:26

SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH

Narisa to mother Annie: Thommy wants you to tell him your plans for him?

In: 7:04:28

Out: 7:04:30

Annie: I want him to stay in the shelter for abandoned children because if he stays here he will be influenced by his friends. I cannot look after him because I am busy trying to earn a living for his younger brothers and sisters and his father has no work.

GRAB PRISON KIDS TAPE 14

Narisa: In: 7:03:28

Out: 7:04:26

Annie: In: 7:04:28

Out: 7:04:30

OVERLAY THOMMY WITH HEAD IN MUMS LAP

Narisa: Does he know Thommy is coming home today?

Annie: I don’t know I haven’t told him.

Annie: Thommy and I cry together because when he bashes me he also bashes Thommy. Sometimes we stay away from home because we are so afraid of him.

So instead of welcome and celebration, there’s more rejection and pain. Soon the whole sorry cycle for this eleven year old will begin again.

Three months on, Thommy was caught stealing yet again and is back in prison with the other children.

There are now 9000 juveniles detained in adult prisons throughout the Philippines…9000 children whose dreams and aspirations amount to nought

GRAB PRISON KIDS TAPE 2

THOMMY

In: 18:10:12

Out: 18:10:36

Thommy: When I grow up I want to go in to business and use my brain. I will sell food. My dream is to get rich. I will not steal anymore.

Music playout

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CREDITS

Camera: Nana Buxani

Sound: Peter Marquez

Field Director: Ditsi Carolino

Narrator: Graham Davis

Editor: Simon Brynjolffssen

Producer: Kylie Grey