What I Have Learned in the Seminar

In the jail decongestion seminar, I have learned many things. First is that Manila City
Jail is considered one of the most crowded and unpleasant jails in the world and
there is a need to decongest prisoners to alleviate the problem. In the Manila City
Jail, there are many prisoners who remain in cells due to their cases not being acted
upon and some who have lost hope that their case might not get acted upon. Our
mentor taught us the tough life in prison wherein prisoners get harsh treatment, have
very little food, living in cramped spaces and their families not being able to visit
them. I also learned the proper way to interview persons deprived of liberty. We
should treat them as if we are their “kumpares” so that they will be comfortable to
talk around us. In interviewing a person deprived of liberty we must ask important
questions like their name, address, how long the case has been, how long has he
been in jail, is this his first offense, his last attorney that handled the case or are
there any relatives visiting him. These questions are important to ensure due
process is afforded and to ensure if the prisoner really needs to be in Manila City Jail
and not other jail in which has jurisdiction of the prisoners case. These questions are
important to make the person deprived of liberty feel like there is still someone who
cares for him in this world. The one advice that our mentor taught us is that we
should never make promises like going to his relatives house and exchange
greetings between them. There should be a fine line between our work as an
attorney and the personal life between prisoners. Lastly I learned to be
compassionate, understanding and empathetic. When dealing with persons deprived
of liberty, we must be kind to them and understand what they are going through and
to ensure in the end that justice is served and that he has his day in court.