THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION HAS NO GPS!!!

Last night while watching the season finale of Glee, I changed channel trying to check out the latest news about the new typhoon Chedeng and to my dismay, I’ve seen this particular topic, I don’t know if it’s a joke or serious news and it actually caught my attention.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago raised this idea of allowing influential and rich inmates of New Bilibid Prison (BDP) in Muntinlupa City the privileged to stay comfortably in their respective cells  and officially pay for better accommodations and will allow them to use professional gizmos like ipad, mobile phone, laptop and alike. According to Sen. Defensor, the “pay to stay program”-borrowed from a similar practice in the United States- would further show how we treat people of the Philippines with equal right even they’re in prison. And what was considered an open secret was brought to public with what was happening similar to Gov. Antonio Leviste in Makati City.

Furthermore, Santiago said it’s natural for wealthy inmates to do such favor and pay ‘under the table” in exchange of staying in a stinky and filthy place whereas newcomers will be raped as soon as they enter their nasty chambers. Under Santiago’s proposal, prisoners may stay in the comfort of their own private cells by paying “hotel rates.” WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE? Just the idea perse is making me puke. Arrghh! But they said, this law will disqualify any prisoner who has a history of violence, sex, drug or arson registrant, or has a situation of endangered health, safety and welfare of other “pay to stay” inmates.

Is she out of her mind? I mean, yes this has been practiced in the United States like in New York and Massachusetts, whereas they have “straight time, weekenders and work furlough programs” which I don’t wish to have here of course! What are prisons? Hotels? Where criminals can relax and meditate? Making this idea happen just means giving them the time of their lives even they are in prison. Anyway, the real question here is, Will the money that they will receive from the pay to stay inmates will really benefit the penitentiary itself? Or this will just be another way for corrupt politicians to add money on their bank accounts? Santiago said, there is no justice here but we can’t do anything because this is the real world. Very ironic it is! A simple way of saying that in this country, the affluent people are the only ones who has the right to live peacefully. How come? Having said there is no justice here just means that this program will show how UNFAIR they are to the innocent people who are the victims of these criminals. Friends of people whose life got ruined because of drugs, Parents of women whose victims of sexual abuse etc. How about the influential drug lords? It’s pretty dumb to let these guys using their mobile phones and laptops. Most likely, they’ll just use it to communicate with their minions on the outside world though.

In this life that we’re living, only God has the right to decide what’s the appropriate punishment for all of us for he’s the one who lend our lives to us. Detaining criminals means there is still justice for their victims. Giving them hope they can live quietly after all what happened to them. Criminals and alike should ATLEAST pay for all the monstrous things they did. Atleast have the decency to face their own mistakes. And help them gain their redemption in the

RIGHT WAY

. Not giving them a reposeful life after all they've done. AGAIN, THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION HAS NO GPS. (Literally!)