Visitor 52

Last Sunday, a couple of friends and I visited an inmate in the jail of a southern city. That wasn't the first time I've been in a jail, but this recent one was a different experience. I was coming from a city one hour and a half away by bus, a friend having invited me to accompany him for the visit. We were met at the bus station by another friend and off we went to the jail.

We were asked to leave anything that could be used by the inmates for anything -- we left cellphones, ballpens, coins, etc in the car. Even our belts were not allowed in -- since I had lost some weight over the past months, my pants were quite loose on me!

I was Visitor 52 (see the picture for my marks!).

The inmate, VL, has been charged with the murder of a neighbor. They say everyone in prison says he is innocent. But VL, a decent man -- truly! -- nearing 70, claims he shot his neighbor with a vintage gun his father had owned, unused for such a long time, kept under lock and key.

It was the result of a land dispute. Turns out the neighbor wanted to move his fence two meters into VL's property (perhaps claiming VL was actually encroaching). And when VL proposed that they get a new survey on their properties, the neighbor refused. This land and his previous employment with a government corporation allowed him to support his wife and their 12 children, and now his pension even helps support children of his widowed daughter.

Later, Mr. Neighbor wants to pick a fight, carries a .45, and brings along his son and two male employees, for persuasive action. A handgun with that caliber, I think carries with it the implicit intent to kill. And with three others, that would be more like coercive action.

VL senses trouble, gets his gun, and ends up shooting Mr. Neighbor. He says he could have fired more, but his gun jammed.

Meanwhile, he surrenders to the police and brought to jail. His case is pending.

The neighbors are off to claim revenge, so VL sends his family to Manila, with Marine escorts from their house to the pier. Not catching up on the family, the neighbors burn VL's house and property. All is lost.

While VL is in jail, facing an unbailable charge of murder, his family is in hiding, and his younger brother and a helper are the only ones helping him out.

He says he is being treated well (he does not really need much) in his cell, by his description, around 3 by 5 meters, shared with about 20 others. He gets to lie on one of the beds. He only has two sets of clothes (everything else got burned). In jail, they are allowed 5 sets maximum. If new a set beyond the 5 is given by relatives or friends, one of the old sets is brought out.

We asked him what he wanted, what we can tell his children (my friend knew some of them) -- tell them to pray for me, he says.

Let's pray for VL too.