DENTRO LA PRIGIONE AUTOGESTITA DALLE GANG 🇵🇭

Summary

这段视频脚本通过“幸福项目”展示了菲律宾马尼拉监狱内部的生活，揭示了囚犯们在极端拥挤和自我管理的环境中如何寻找幸福和自由。监狱因杜特尔特总统的“毒品战争”而人满为患，囚犯数量从95,000激增至165,000。视频中，囚犯们分享了他们的故事，包括因谋杀、毒品和盗窃入狱的原因，以及他们在监狱中的生活现状。尽管面临困境，囚犯们仍然展现出对生活的积极态度，通过宗教信仰、学习、工作和对家人的思念来寻找安慰。此外，监狱中还存在一种独特的经济和社会结构，囚犯们通过支付额外费用来改善生活条件，甚至形成了自己的社区和规则。视频强调了自由的真正含义，不仅仅是身体的释放，更是心灵的自由，以及即使在监狱中也能保持希望、梦想和爱的能力。

Takeaways

• 🇵🇭 菲律宾监狱系统因罗德里戈·杜特尔特总统的“毒品战争”政策而面临严重的超负荷问题，囚犯数量在六年内增长了75%。
• 🏭 马尼拉主要监狱设计上只能容纳800人，但实际上关押了超过5000名囚犯，导致监狱处于崩溃边缘。
• 🚫 囚犯们在监狱中形成了自己的社区，拥有商店、汽车、花园、面包店甚至互联网连接等设施。
• 👮‍♂️ 由于狱警数量不足，囚犯们在很大程度上自我管理，帮助维护监狱秩序，每个狱警大约负责500名囚犯。
• 🌈 监狱中LGBTQ群体受到尊重和保护，他们有权表达自己的性取向并享有一定程度的隐私。
• 🤝 囚犯之间形成了一种相互支持的社区感，有的人通过支付费用来获得更好的住宿条件。
• 😔 尽管生活条件恶劣，但囚犯们找到了适应和生存的方法，包括通过创造性的方式如使用纸板作为床垫来改善自己的居住环境。
• 🤔 囚犯们对自由的看法多种多样，一些人认为幸福是自由，而另一些人则认为即使在监狱中也能找到幸福和希望。
• 📈 囚犯中的“市长”（Mayores）通过民主选举产生，他们和下属自我管理各自的宿舍区域，没有狱警的干预。
• 💼 一名囚犯通过支付其他囚犯来装修自己的房间，显示出即使在监狱中，经济活动也在进行。
• 🧐 一名澳大利亚逃犯因企图将可卡因从南美走私到澳大利亚而在菲律宾被拘留，尽管在菲律宾他没有犯罪，但因引渡法而留在监狱中。

Q & A

菲律宾监狱系统面临的主要问题是什么？

菲律宾监狱系统面临的主要问题是严重的超员问题，这主要是由于罗德里戈·杜特尔特总统上台后发起的“毒品战争”导致的囚犯数量急剧增加。

杜特尔特总统的“毒品战争”对菲律宾监狱系统产生了什么影响？

杜特尔特总统的“毒品战争”导致大量与毒品有关的人员被监禁，使得原本就薄弱的菲律宾监狱系统崩溃，囚犯数量从9万多人增加到大约16.5万人，增长了近75%。

在马尼拉主要监狱中，囚犯是如何进行自我管理的？

在马尼拉主要监狱中，囚犯通过各自的帮派领袖（称为Mayores）和下属进行自我管理，他们负责管理自己的宿舍区，而几乎没有来自警卫的干预。

囚犯在监狱中如何与外界沟通？

囚犯在监狱中有互联网接入点，可以通过电子通信与外界联系。此外，他们每天有3分钟的时间使用公共电话与家人通话。

监狱中的LGBTQ群体如何被对待？

在监狱中，LGBTQ群体受到尊重和保护，他们可以自由表达自己的性取向，并且在一定程度上可以按照自己的意愿进行生活。

囚犯在监狱中如何获得私人空间？

囚犯可以通过支付一定的费用来获得私人房间，这些房间可以提供更多的隐私和舒适度。

监狱中的帮派如何形成和管理自己的社区？

监狱中的帮派通过选举产生自己的领袖（Mayores），并制定自己的规则和惩罚制度来管理自己的社区。他们有明确的规定，如不得杀害同帮派成员，不得偷窃同帮派成员的妻子等。

监狱中的生活条件如何，是否有足够的设施？

监狱中的生活条件相对简陋，但囚犯们创造了自己的社区，有电视、健身房、篮球场、理发店等设施，甚至有的囚犯还拥有自己的房间和宠物。

囚犯在监狱中如何维持生计，是否有工作机会？

囚犯在监狱中可以通过做一些工作来维持生计，例如修理汽车、摩托车、做木工和绘画等。

囚犯对于自由和幸福的理解有何变化？

囚犯对自由和幸福的理解在监狱生活中发生了变化。他们认识到真正的自由不仅仅是身体上的释放，更是心灵上的自由，即使在监狱这样受限的环境中，也能通过积极的态度和内心的希望找到幸福。

监狱中的囚犯如何面对自己的过去和未来？

囚犯通过反思自己的过去，接受现状，并尝试在监狱中找到生活的意义和目标。他们通过学习、工作、建立人际关系等方式来改善自己的生活，并为未来出狱后的生活做准备。

Outlines

00:00

😀 菲律宾监狱现状：毒品战争与囚犯生活

本段介绍了菲律宾总统杜特尔特自2016年上任以来，以打击毒品为政治纲领，导致监狱系统超负荷运转，囚犯数量从95,000人激增至165,000人。监狱内部拥挤不堪，平均每400名囚犯只有一名警卫，实际上由囚犯自我管理。记者Giuseppe探访了马尼拉主要监狱，试图了解在自由被剥夺的情况下，幸福的含义如何变化。

05:04

🏭 监狱内部：自治、设施与囚犯生活

描述了马尼拉监狱的内部情况，囚犯们生活在一个类似社区的环境中，有商店、车辆、互联网连接点等设施。囚犯们被分配到不同的区域，以避免不同帮派之间的冲突。囚犯们有3分钟的时间使用公共电话与家人通话，尽管通话是公开的。此外，还提到了监狱中的非帮派成员的生活状况，以及囚犯如何协助警卫维持秩序。

10:04

🏳️‍🌈 囚犯中的LGBTQ+群体：尊重与生存之道

探讨了监狱中LGBTQ+群体的生活状态，他们在这个封闭的空间内受到尊重和保护。囚犯们表达了他们对爱情和被爱的渴望，以及如何在囚犯社区中找到隐私和尊重。同时，也讨论了囚犯之间的性交易和安全性行为的问题。

15:11

👮‍♂️ 帮派统治下的监狱生活：规则与层级

介绍了监狱中不同帮派的规则和层级结构，以及如何通过囚犯自我管理来维持秩序。每个帮派都有自己的领导者，称为Mayores，他们通过选举产生，并负责管理自己的区域。此外，还展示了帮派的规则和囚犯之间的互动。

20:12

👨‍👦 囚犯的个人故事：从犯罪到救赎

讲述了囚犯个人的故事，包括他们为何入狱、在监狱中的角色（如成为年轻囚犯的养父），以及他们如何在监狱中找到生活的意义和目标。一些囚犯通过参与监狱内的活动（如体育、维护工作）来调整自己的生活。

25:15

🌐 监狱中的国际逃犯：从富翁到囚犯

一位曾是国际逃犯的囚犯讲述了他的经历，包括他的犯罪计划、逃亡生活以及最终被捕的过程。他反思了自己的选择，讨论了犯罪作为解决财务问题的短期方案所带来的长期后果，并分享了他在监狱中学到的关于自由和生活价值的教训。

30:18

💭 监狱中的反思：自由与幸福的真正含义

最后一段中，囚犯分享了他对自由和幸福的深刻理解。他强调了自由不仅仅是身体上的释放，而是一种心态，是在困境中找到希望、梦想和爱的能力。他认识到，即使在监狱中，也有可能体验到幸福，并且真正的自由是心灵上的自由。

Keywords

💡监狱过度拥挤

监狱过度拥挤是指监狱中关押的囚犯数量远远超过了其设计容量，这通常会导致囚犯的生活条件恶化，安全问题增加。在视频中，菲律宾的监狱系统因罗德里戈·杜特尔特总统的禁毒战争而面临严重的过度拥挤问题，囚犯数量在六年内增加了近75%。

💡禁毒战争

禁毒战争是指政府为了打击非法毒品交易和使用而采取的一系列严厉措施。视频中提到，杜特尔特总统上台后，以禁毒战争为政治纲领，成立了特别警察部队“忍者”，授权他们消灭毒品贩子或使用者，这一策略引发了大量平民被杀和监狱过度拥挤。

💡自我管理

自我管理是指在缺乏外部监管的情况下，个人或群体自行组织和维持秩序。视频中描述了马尼拉主要监狱由于狱警数量不足，囚犯们不得不自我管理，每个帮派控制的区域内都有自己的规则和等级制度。

💡帮派

帮派通常指的是一群有组织的、有共同目标或利益的人。在监狱环境中，帮派往往有自己的规则和领导者，控制着监狱的一部分区域。视频中提到了“Bahalana gang”和“Sputnik gang”，它们在监狱中有着显著的影响力和组织结构。

💡囚犯权利

囚犯权利是指即使在服刑期间，囚犯依然享有的基本人权，如安全、健康、通信等权利。视频中提到囚犯可以使用互联网、有电视观看、甚至有健身房和篮球场等设施，这些都是对囚犯权利的体现。

💡同性恋社群

同性恋社群是指在特定环境中，同性恋者形成的社会群体。视频中提到，在监狱中，LGBTQ社群受到尊重和保护，他们有权表达自己的性取向，并在一定程度上享有隐私和尊严。

💡囚犯再社会化

囚犯再社会化是指帮助囚犯适应社会生活，减少再犯率的过程。视频中的囚犯通过学习圣经、参与教堂活动、甚至在监狱中扮演父亲角色等方式，寻找到了属于自己的救赎和社会责任感。

💡自由

自由是指个人能够自主做出选择并为其选择负责的状态。视频中多次提及自由的重要性，特别是在囚犯的语境中，自由不仅是身体的释放，更是心灵和思想的解放。

💡幸福

幸福是一个主观的感受，指个人内心的满足和愉悦。视频中，不同的囚犯对幸福有不同的定义，有的人认为幸福是自由，有的人则认为幸福是能够爱人和被爱，或者是在困难中找到希望和梦想。

💡监狱生活

监狱生活是指囚犯在监狱中的日常活动和经历。视频中展示了囚犯如何在有限的空间内生活、工作、社交，以及他们如何在艰苦的环境中寻找到生活的意义和幸福感。

💡心理健康

心理健康是指个人心理状态的完好和平衡，对于囚犯来说，保持心理健康尤为重要，因为它直接关系到他们的情绪稳定和行为适应。视频中的囚犯通过各种方式，如祈祷、体育活动、社交等来维护自己的心理健康。

Highlights

菲律宾监狱系统因杜特尔特总统的毒品战争而面临严重的超负荷问题。

马尼拉主要监狱的日常生活记录，揭示了囚犯在极度拥挤条件下的生存状态。

囚犯们在监狱内部自行管理，平均每400名囚犯只有一名警卫。

监狱内部存在不同的帮派，每个帮派都有自己的规则和等级制度。

囚犯通过支付费用可以获得更好的住宿条件，如私人房间。

监狱中设有互联网连接点，允许囚犯与外界沟通。

囚犯们在监狱内部经营小商店，甚至有面包店和美容院。

监狱内部的囚犯通过自我管理帮助警卫维持秩序。

囚犯每天有3分钟时间使用公共电话与家人通话，但通话是公开的。

监狱中对LGBTQ群体给予尊重和保护，他们有自己的生活方式和规则。

囚犯通过支付额外费用来改善自己的住宿和生活条件。

监狱内部存在一种自治文化，囚犯们有自己的经济活动和社交生活。

囚犯们对于自由和幸福的理解在监狱生活中发生了变化。

监狱中的囚犯通过各种方式来应对和适应他们的服刑生活。

监狱中的囚犯通过自我表达和创造性活动来寻找个人的幸福和自由感。

一名囚犯分享了他的故事，说明了即使在监狱中，也可以找到生活的意义和目标。

监狱生活揭示了自由的真正价值，以及即使身处困境，也能保持积极心态的重要性。

Transcripts

Because now... they will do a check, and I hope not too in-depth.

Interesting that I still feel quite comfortable and safe,

surrounded by hundreds of kids who are still serving their sentence.

How many people sleep here?

New ones.

Nine people.

I'm in prison because I stabbed someone.

I'm here for murder.

Does it happen that someone offers you money for sex?

Sometimes yes.

Do you use condoms?

Sometimes we use plastic.

My name is Giuseppe, and I have a mission:

Travel the world to meet the most extraordinary characters on the planet

and ask him a simple question:

What is happiness for you?

Welcome to the "HAPPINESS PROJECT"

My war on drugs won't stop until...

Until the end of my mandate.

So six years from now.

Until the last drug dealer and drug lord are...

The Philippines has a big problem: the shocking overcrowding of prisons.

It all started in 2016.

When, surprising all predictions,

the little-known Rodrigo Duterte became the President of the Republic.

Basing his political line on a single promise:

War on drugs.

Oh yes, because precisely in that period,

the Philippines was on the brink of becoming a “narcostate,”

due to the affiliation of local gangs with the Mexican Sinaloa cartel.

Duterte immediately established a new special police force "The Ninja",

who had orders to eliminate dealers or users of illegal drugs.

A rather controversial order, because in a few months,

he counted more than 30 thousand civilians killed by the police.

His tactics of state terrorism generated an unprecedented level of violence.

Dragging so many civilians to prison that the already very weak Philippine prison system collapses.

In just six years of office,

Duterte's authoritarian policies have brought the number of prisoners from more than 95 thousand to around 165 thousand.

An increase of almost 75%.

Today the country's prisons are so overcrowded that there is an average of one guard for every 400 inmates.

In short, they are self-managed by the inmates themselves.

We are about to enter the main prison in Manila,

to document what it means to live and often even survive in one of the most overcrowded prisons in the world,

and understand how the concept of happiness changes when your freedom is deprived.

It would seem that we have done it, all we need is that gate to "cross"

then we are inside the Manila prison.

Let's see what happens.

Waiting for me at the entrance is officer Jacob with a group of guards,

who after having explained to me the extraction maneuvers from the prison in the event of a riot,

they must ensure that I do not bring anything illegal into the facility.

I'm a bit tense, because now they'll give me a check-up... I hope not too in-depth.

Go there.

Up there?

Up there.

He's checking everything, even though... I hid something inside my shoes, under the insole.

Then it was, it was quite “light” in terms of control, but I'm sure that

When they know there's an inmate coming in, they do a much more thorough check.

Officer Jacob explained to me that sometimes they clearly have to check the whole body,

and also... inside.

Everyone you see is wearing a yellow shirt

they are people deprived of liberty, i.e. PDL. Ok, ok.

We are climbing a tower, from which we will have the possibility of seeing the entire prison.

How all the sectors are divided, and also understanding what the difficulties are because there are various gangs in the prison.

The sectors are divided... So as not to let them meet and clash.

Wow

It looks more like an amusement park than a prison.

That boy is working.

Yes.

There are cars inside, there are shops. Never seen anything like it.

This is the southern sector.

This is a dormitory with non-gang affiliated inmates, or as we call it “Querna”.

Querna.

Yes, Querna.

So those people chose not to affiliate

with no gang here.

Exact.

Quernas is divided into three dormitories.

We have dormitory one,

dorm two and dorm four here.

And here we also have the isolation and quarantine area for new arrivals.

You can also find the internet point here in Quernas

where they can communicate with the people they care about thanks to electronic communication.

They have internet here!?

We have an Internet connection here.

Ok.

They are allowed to use

internet which.

Then they also have a garden.

They also have a garden.

They also have a canteen to eat something.

We also have a bakery there.

A bakery!

We also serve him bread. It's very far from the idea I had of a prison,

but I think I should expect much more than that from this one.

Although the situation may seem under control from here on,

with over 5,000 inmates crammed into a space designed to accommodate just 800.

The Manila Penitentiary is on the verge of collapse, creating a potentially explosive situation.

They are already making him count this entire sector.

I'm just saying I don't see the end, there are so many prisoners in this sector that there's no end in sight to this... this column.

“Mistakes are proof that you are trying”

“A negative mind will never give you a positive life”

But it's lunch time, I think they've already eaten. Now they are taking us to where they distribute food to understand how it works.

I don't know what to be surprised about anymore, they also have TV to watch the news, films,

Good morning.

We arrived too late, and therefore they have already cooked, eaten, distributed, but on these little flames...

They cook for 400 people, only people from this sector.

The thing that surprises me most, however, is that they, for example like these guys,

they can light a fire and warm themselves or eat which may be private or personal or brought to their families.

Or something that they left over the day before, but they can make it freely, whenever they want,

these stoves are for everyone.

Extraordinary to think that the prisoners themselves help the guards keep everything under control,

because there really aren't enough guards.

There is one guard for every 500 prisoners, so of course the guards also have to rely on them.

So that everything remains under control and at peace.

Imagine if there wasn't this, this coordination, this, this support from them.

It would be a war, every day.

This is really interesting, the prisoners in this sector have 3 minutes a day,

to call their families from these phones, but the conversations are public.

Because there's an endless queue waiting to speak,

and they have to perhaps call their wives, their children, talk in front of everyone...

for 3 minutes, every day.

You don't care what

you can't have one

private conversation?

Maybe you want to call your wife

or your children.

Yes, it's always like this

only for children.

In reality they are conversations about children, about school. Things like that.

A normal conversation.

No...

No secret conversations.

Why are you here?

I'm here for murder.

Homocide!

Yes.

How many years of sentence?

They've already given me 30 to 40 years.

Give 30 you get 40.

20. From 20 to 40 years old.

How does it feel to know this?

It wasn't easy before,

but now I have already accepted it.

I often study the Bible,

I go to church every Sunday.

Now it's easy for me,

it's all easier to bear. Unlike what you might imagine,

within these walls, the LGBTQ community

She is deeply respected and protected.

Nobody can touch them.

Almost.

I wonder

if for your community,

it's even more difficult

live here because you are surrounded

by thousands of men.

Maybe they can think of

abuse or use you.

How is it living here?

It all depends on you.

If you want to have sex, you can show the other person that you want it,

but if you don't like it,

they won't abuse you, all of us gays here...

What we want is to love, be loved, respect and be respected.

It depends on us, if we like the boy

and he offers his room,

maybe it's small but it has its privacy,

we basically go there.

But if a guy doesn't have a room

and we like each other

let's go to the bathroom.

Ok

OK well

Does it happen that someone offers you money for sex?

Sometimes.

Yes sometimes.

And do you accept?

Yes.

If you like.

Yes, if you like him, if the guy is cute.

Yes, yes.

Otherwise… I'm busy, I have something to do.

You have a headache!

Yes, yes I don't feel well...

And what about safety?

Do you use condoms?

Yes, we use plastic from time to time.

Really?

No, no, I'm joking.

We have a supply of condoms.

Condoms and lubricants.

Lubricants, okay.

And then everyone gets tested for HIV.

Happens

that your kids have a family outside?

Yes, yes

Yes.

They have wives.

Maybe it's love that will last

as long as they are here in prison.

Yes.

So it happens

that maybe someone is not gay, but inside

wants a bit of cuddles and finds it with you.

Yes.

I'm really, really curious

to know why you are here.

I stole cars.

How many cars have you stolen in your life?

More than a hundred.

One hundred!

So can you open one like this?

Yes.

Because you never stole the cars

what are here?

There are a lot of gates.

there are times when employees

they ask me to help them.

With maintenance.

Really?

To fix cars, motorbikes.

The other day I was fixing a motorbike.

What did you do? 5-11?

Yes, 5-11.

5 is drug sales and 11 is consumption.

I admit I used drugs, but I never sold them.

You did not.

But I'm still here.

I do not know.

How long have you been here?

Since two months.

Two months.

They gave me a 5-11, but

without proof, nothing.

So I use drugs and deal drugs.

Yes.

But what is happiness personally for you?

Happiness for me

I believe that

I can only feel happiness if I do

or I can do whatever I want.

Happiness is freedom.

Happiness is freedom.

We still can

we can still feel the happiness here.

But outside it is completely different.

But I always believe that

I'm here in Manila prison

for redemption.

So I agreed to be here

so that I know

what I'll do outside

if I can get out of here.

Here are those who are part of the LGBT group

she has a dream: to be truly treated like women.

Out

we have never heard anything like it.

But here in the Manila Penitentiary I think that for all of us, I'm not just talking about my happiness, but for all of us,

whether to be treated like queens, respected, treated like real wives, real girls, real women.

We don't need to do anything here, it's our partners, the men who need to take care of us.

This prison never ceases to amaze me,

even some of these prisoners feel freer to be who they really are

in here compared to the world beyond the walls.

But this is the reality of one sector, namely that of prisoners not affiliated with any gang,

entering another sector literally means accessing a world of its own,

with totally different rules and hierarchies depending on the gang.

The leader of each sector is called Mayores

and with his subordinates he self-manages his dormitory

without any interference from the guards.

How did you become a Mayore?

By popular election.

I got there step by step.

Supervisore, “senior” and poi “seniors”

How long have you been here?

Almost 4 years.

4 years.

What did you do to be here?

Drug.

Drug. Did you sell it or did you even use it?

For me.

Only for you?

Yes.

What kind of drug?

Methamphetamine?

Yes, but there was no proof.

It's incredible that most of them are here for taking drugs,

and few of them, even for having passed them off,

but this is the best they have done but for example this gentleman has been here for 4 years.

simply for taking methamphetamine.

The rules in the Philippines regarding drugs are very harsh.

They are showing us all the rules of this gang that are written here.

They are in Filipino, we don't understand them but now we'll have them explained to us.

You are not allowed to kill another gang member, whether inside or outside prison.

50 times.

If you kill your companion.

All right. The second?

You can't steal another gang member's wife.

One and two.

One and two.

Yes.

Those are the most important.

The others are simple punishments.

Punishments.

But the first two...

...they have heavy punishments.

Ok.

Symbol: question mark.

Anyone else have “Bahala na gang”?

All of them.

You who.

In other parts.

Look at them. Everyone.

And you did it in here?

Out.

“Cyber ​​Comunication Center” this is the prison's internet point.

It's incredible, that is, all prisoners can enter here and connect to the internet.

However, the most important thing we must remember when browsing online is:

Always surf protected, with NORD VPN.

In the description below the video I left you a link thanks to which

with just one subscription you can keep the whole family's browsing safe.

Protecting up to 6 devices simultaneously with NORD VPN apps.

Because if while you watch this video you don't have an active VPN, your IP address,

your browsing history, location and other sensitive personal data

they can be used to bombard you with spam ads, or worse, steal your identity.

What NORD VPN does instead is hide your IP, and therefore, all your personal information

from bad guys so much so that, thanks to their "NO LOG" policy, not even NORD VPN

can track or record your traffic.

You become practically invisible. So with just a few euros a month your privacy is safe,

and you basically have a virtual shield that blocks malicious sites, online trackers

and annoying ads, while obviously also checking your files

downloaded to avoid viruses and malware. Not bad I'd say.

And as always I leave you the link in the description to get the best offer

on the market and try NORD VPN and always browse in complete safety.

And now, let's get back to our tour of the prison.

We're going with... let's say the mayor's right hand man

inside… the dormitory. Let's see what it's like.

I understand now what the symbol is,

they do this because this is a question mark.

That's the point... and the question.

So these are

and bedroom?

Yes, these are the dorms

We have a population of 600 people.

Only in this sector.

Yes, for this sector.

How many people are here?

Hey guys.

If I'm not mistaken we have 670.

Can I come in?

Yes.

Please. Come in, come in!

Do you just sleep here?

All the rest of the time

you are out of this cell.

Yes. The boys are showing me how they sleep.

Really because... like this, seeing like this,

There seems to be no room, let's see.

Two like this and the other two?

Ah, they build it.

Thank you guys.

Thank you.

Hello lads.

Everything OK?

How many people sleep here?

9.

9 people.

You are organized.

They have TV. Here.

HI.

Vip.

Vip.

Hey friend. Ok, ok, good.

Here I am.

Do you have your own room here?

Yes this is my room.

How many people sleep there?

A. Only me.

Why?

Why...

Are you paying for anything?

Yes, I pay.

And you can sleep in it yourself.

Yes.

As I imagined, money buys anything.

Also a good bed.

In jail.

Okay, guys.

Thank you.

HI.

Here are the common bathrooms.

They are used by all 600 people.

Okay, this is... We see...

Ok this is the bathroom, eh!

Javier, why are you here?

You know, I've been caught in various places using drugs… things like that.

You were just using it, right?

Yes, I was before.

But at that time I was arrested.

But you never sold it.

No, don't. Do not.

Interestingly, I feel quite comfortable, and confident.

Surrounded by hundreds of… of kids who are still serving a sentence,

and there is no guard.

But everything seems to be under control. Although…

from what the guards also told me, the situation

it could change at any moment.

A spark could make...

change… These faces that now seem half-smiling.

Another... another state of mind, but now, all things considered, everything is ok.

Hello lads.

Divided by a wall of a few centimeters, the worst enemies of the Bahalana gang are detained

who agreed to let me enter their sector too.

I'm entering the most dangerous sector, that of Sputnik, and another gang.

And apparently they are the most dangerous.

There is a billiards table here too, right inside the sector.

There is a television there

And also a barber

This is our barber

people

they are allowed to come and get their hair cut here

and it's all free.

Your colleague is checking if...

It is monitoring the activity and checking if everything is done correctly and safely.

It's no longer dangerous

for a woman, a female officer to work in a male dormitory?

I've been working here since

almost four years.

Have you ever felt in danger?

No.

Not even once.

Yes. I simply prayed before coming to work.

In this industry they have everything

Even the gym.

This is the basketball court on the second floor.

And their TV is there too.

They have TV and a makeshift gym there.

They do what they want here

They also have a basketball court...

The terrace! and a gym down there.

While the others are watching a movie.

Incredible! incredible, I never imagined I would find it

a prison like this.

What is the symbol of this gang?

The symbols of this gang are the four dots,

a spaceship.

This one.

And this.

The rabbit.

Each of them has the sputnik gang tattoo

which are either the five dots

Or the spaceship

or a rabbit with one ear raised and another lowered.

And each of them must have it for

show, to demonstrate their, their loyalty

and affiliation for the gang to which they belong

Here too they have a mayor

And his name is Eric Nunez, it's written right there on the wall.

He is the Mayore, then there is the second

All the names are there, the whole hierarchy

of this new gang called Sputnik

It's written there

And they obviously have the magna carta too,

and their 10 rules to follow so that they can be part of this gang.

Because if here, what's your story?

Am I allowed to talk about it sir?

I assume so.

What is your case?

It's about revolt.

Where?

In a Bureau case.

What case?

Two murders.

Oh right, the murders.

Do you plead guilty or innocent?

I am innocent, sir.

Innocent.

Yes.

This prisoner tells us how his imprisonment is less burdensome

since he became a sort of stepfather

for the youngest inmate in the prison.

And so very curious we ask this boy

to tell us his story.

What's your story?

I was imprisoned because I stabbed a person.

Someone broke into our house, then my gang betrayed me.

Since I've been here no one has ever come to visit me, not even once.

Do you feel alone here?

Partially yes.

I have cellmates

and a foster father here who take care of me.

What do you miss most about your old life?

My parents. I would like to help them. I would like to find a job to be able to help them.

Do you have someone waiting for you outside?

Do you have someone waiting for you outside?

Who? Your enemies?

Nobody, just my parents.

Does staying here make you feel like a criminal?

Or did you just make a mistake?

I'm here because of my mistake, because I stabbed someone.

I didn't mean it, it was self-defense.

They're taking us to their dorm now.

Hey guys. Very low.

Are they praying?

Here there is a small mosque, they are praying.

I don't know how he does it here. This one is much heavier than the other one.

Hello lads.

I sleep there.

Good afternoon.

How many of you sleep here?

20.

20.

20 people.

And where do you sleep?

Turn on the light.

This is your bed.

Well.

Is this all you have?

Don't you have any other things with you?

When I got here I had nothing. These are things left behind by old cellmates.

Thank you!

Thank you.

My father is “Champaloloy”.

“Champaloloy”.

Handsome. It's interesting that he sees this boy as a father because he doesn't have parents

who come to visit him, he took it as a point of reference,

and therefore, it is the one who protects him, the one who helps him in difficult times.

And here I assure you that there are many.

For example, this room has a very strong odor, there is an incredible smell of pee,

I don't know, I don't know why,

but I think there are no bathrooms and maybe just maybe they do it in bottles.

Okay, guys, thanks so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I just hope that in a prison where gangs rule the roost,

a boy so young can find the determination to believe that there is a life beyond his pain.

A life without crime. But as I exit the sputnik sector,

among a group of prisoners I notice one

who among the thousands of yellow shirts, looks like an alien.

What did you do, why are you in prison?

In Australia I have an arrest warrant

for conspiracy to import

cocaine from South America to Australia.

But in the Philippines

I have no crime.

It's just for the extradition law

that keep me here.

Because you were

been caught here?

No, I was captured in Australia,

but I ran away from Australia

and they took me here.

Have you escaped from prison?

No, I didn't run away.

I was out on bail.

I bought a sailboat

I packed it and left

and I sailed all over the world for 2 years. And then...

But they found me here after two years.

Just to explain. I'm not in a gang.

So yeah, the area we're going to

now it's for everyone who isn't in gangs.

All right. All right.

There are about 500 of us.

Instead these areas are gangs.

I live in that dorm over there.

Can I see your dorm?

Right.

All right.

This is the common area.

Get all the way to the bottom where you see the lights.

I'll take you there.

My room is over there.

Ok.

So during the day,

this area is common,

but at night,

here there are all people sleeping.

Ok, do they sleep everywhere?

Yes, everywhere.

If you see a cardboard box, folded

How's that. That's a bed.

A boy sleeps there.

And you don't mess with someone's cartoon.

It's like a mattress, you hold it like a mattress.

Keeps dirt and cold away.

So if you,

if you touch someone's mattress,

if you touch it,

they get angry.

Here the government practically throws you in and closes the door. And then in here people create their own community.

Yes.

Actually my room is quite good,

because I just had it renovated.

I paid the boys in here,

there are carpenters, painters,

I paid them, bought some materials

and then I paid them to renovate it for me.

I'll show you.

Yes.

These are my cats.

I have cats.

Ignore the floor

because I have to change it to these tonight.

But they put in the wooden parts and painted.

This is probably the most...

the best I've seen.

So it's a bit of a mess

due to yesterday's renovation.

Yes.

The mattress just needs to be folded

then I have sheets and everything

and then I sleep well.

Well.

Yes.

A fan, light for reading books.

So you were an international criminal...

Fugitive.

Fugitive.

Yes.

I ran away for two years.

I went to about five other countries

before coming here.

But then I decided to stay here

and then they arrested me.

Then I stayed here for two years,

and then they found me.

How did they find you?

I do not know. I do not know.

They found me somehow

the Australian Federal Police.

I went from being rich

like a millionaire to have

almost nothing.

Now I live alone in prisons.

If I asked you... are you guilty?

Yes,

the crime is conspiracy.

Means

make a plan, but don't do it.

Yes.

That's why I was arrested.

So we were

there was a group of

we who were captured

we made a plan

to bring

cocaine from South America to Australia.

We've been caught before

that something would happen.

But in Australia

it is still a life sentence crime.

Life imprisonment.

It's more than murder, actually.

How many kilos were you planning on...

100 chili.

100 chili.

This was the plan.

Why did you do that?

You already had the money.

In 2007

I almost failed because of a mistake I made

with some managers

that I employed

and I was a few million dollars in debt.

So I had the money.

But then they lost them.

And then me

I got rid of it and then came back.

And then I started having it again

over the next two years.

And then the global financial crisis

strikes again.

And I'm back to being broke again,

not just broke,

but millions of dollars in debt.

So after two years of recovery

global financial crisis of 2009,

and down again,

and that was the moment I searched

another alternative

to help me get out of debt

of approximately two million dollars.

It is a choice dictated by desperation.

Yes, but that's where it's ironic

and this is the life lesson

for a lot of people.

I didn't earn a cent

and yet look at the price I paid.

I've actually been out of debt since 2009

until 2011, when I was arrested.

Alone, thanks to a normal legal activity

and then I was arrested

and all this happened

so I didn't need it.

And

so I think the life lesson is that

the crime is...

it can be a short term solution,

but it will be very rarely.

You will normally pay a higher price

and it won't be the solution

and there will be other solutions

which are legal.

So it is better to follow the legal route.

But it's fine.

You know, it's not like that...

It's a blessing in disguise,

they are blessings in disguise.

I'm actually happier here than

what I was in Australia and

in Australia when I had my own business,

I was under a lot of stress.

I had money, of course, but

at the end of the day

It does not mean anything.

And then I wasn't married,

I hadn't had children

At that time.

Getting arrested actually led me,

to get married and have children

because I understood that...

what meaning does my life have if

I won't have children,

and then, but,

you know, I lost everything else,

but it went well.

What is the most important lesson

What have you learned after being locked up for so long?

The greatest lesson...

I think it's something that

Most people don't understand how valuable

it is freedom.

It won't be until you're arrested

and you lose it,

you realize

how important and precious it is.

And then

you have no control over your life.

Since then.

Just your attitude.

And when you are private

of one's freedom...

Yes.

What is the meaning of happiness?

I heard a saying once, and it's true,

you can be in a prison

without being in prison.

Happiness is more than being free

out of a prison,

have your freedom out of prison.

It is also necessary

live the life you want to live out.

If you have a series of problems

and restrictions

in your life outside, then it is

like being in prison.

But you're not even in prison. And who would have thought that I would receive a lesson in freedom right inside a prison.

Marcus is right, prisons often don't need to be built

of concrete and metal but can be invisible,

in our heads, made of fears that force us to give up our dreams,

to our passions, and even to our true identity.

This man, like many others, is paying a high price for the mistakes of a lifetime.

Dreaming of one day being free,

physically, because, ironically, it is right within these walls

who learned that true freedom is a state of mind.

It is the ability to find hope even in the darkest moments.

To dream even when it seems impossible and to love

even when surrounded by hate.

Maybe it's really true that the greatest risk is living in prison

even when you are truly free to live your life,

but this also means that we have the power to free ourselves,

to break the chains that hold us back and embrace life

with all its splendor and uncertainty