'Boto ni Kosa,' Jay Taruc's documentary on voters from prison

“BOTO NI KOSA”
Dokumentaryo ni Jay Taruc
April 15, 2013
BOTO NI KOSA
 
One day in every three years, Filipinos converge for one goal. On that day, Filipinos from all walks of life, rich or poor, prisoners, fishermen, farmers and OFW’s are all equal.  On this day, they share the same power: to elect the new leaders of our country.
 
This month of April,  join I-Witness as it  sheds light to the various faces of voters in the country.  Because on election day, more than the candidates, it is the voters who will decide the future of the country.  
 
The election special series begins with Jay Taruc’s story on voters from prison.  He delves into the world behind bars to discover how the inmates make their choice picks for the next leaders of the country.  
 
The right to vote is part of our freedom as citizens and a human being. But this right is one of the things a man is stripped off when going to prison. 
 
But three years ago, a feat is accomplished. 
 
COMELEC Resolution Number 9371 allowed detainees, who are not yet convicted of any crime and are still presumed to be innocent, to finally vote for the first time in 2010. Thus, retaining their right of suffrage.
 
Along with the People With Disabilities and Indigenous Peoples, the inmate voter sector, are the most disenfranchised of all group of voters in the Philippines.
 
The Manila City Jail has the most number of registered voters among jails nationwide.
 
For inmates tatay Rogelio, 81 years old, and Dennis, 28 years old, wheelchair bound, the right to vote is the only freedom left for them.
 
Tatay Rogelio was jailed because of theft. One of his children fares no differently. He is now serving a sentence in Bilibid Prison. The other siblings are already deceased  thus he has no one to take care of his needs. 
 
Dennis has just graduated from college and dreamed of becoming a policeman when he was allegedly assaulted by street gangs. He shot one of them defending himself. But tragedy struck heavily when a barangay captain shot him and left him paralyzed from waist down.
 
Ironically, he is the one who is left behind bars. The chairman still at large.
 
A politician caused him his suffering, but another politician is making it right.
 
Voting means hope for tatay Rogelio and Dennis.
 
And this coming elections, they hope for change, if not for them, for their family.
 
 
Filipino version:
 
Kada tatlong taon, may isang araw na nagsasama-sama ang Pilipino para sa iisang hangarin. Sa araw na ito, walang mahirap o mayaman, lahat pantay-pantay. Dahil sa araw na ito, ano man ang estado sa buhay, may kapangyarihang mamimili ng lider na iluluklok sa pwesto. 
 
Ngayong Abril, samahan ang I-Witness sa pagbibigay mukha ng iba't ibang botante sa bansa. Dahil sa araw ng eleksyon, higit sa mga kandidato, ang mga botante ang siyang magdedesisyon para sa kinabukasan ng bayan.
 
Ang pagboto ay isang simbolo ng kalayaan. Ngunit para sa mga nakakulong, ang karapatang ito ay kasama sa mga natanggal sa kanilang pagpasok sa rehas.
 
Pero noong taong 2010, sa pamamagitan ng Comelec Resolution # 9371, binibigyan na ng karapatang bumoto ang sinumang nakakulong na hindi pa napapatawan ng sentensya.
 
Kaya para kina tatay Rogelio, 81 taong gulang, at Dennis, edad 28, kasalukuyang mga preso sa Manila City Jail, isang paraan ng pagbibigay ng importansya sa mga katulad nila ang makaboto.
 
Ang Manila City Jail ang may pinakamaraming rehistradong botante sa lahat ng kulungan sa bansa. 
 
Sa kalagayan ni Dennis, na apat na taon nang nakakulong dahil sa salang murder, ang pagboto ang isa sa nakikita niyang tulong para makagaan sa kanyang kalagayan. Baldado na si Dennis dahil sa pagkakabaril sa kanyang tagiliran. Isang politiko raw ang tumulong sa kanya. Kaya ito na rin ang iboboto niya sa darating na halalan.
 
Para naman kay tatay Rogelio na nakulong dahil sa salang pagnanakaw ng cellphone, umaasa siyang magkakaroon pa rin ng pagbabago sa kalagayan ng mga katulad niyang naghihikahos. 
 
Ang kalayaang makapili ng mga napupusuan nilang iluklok sa puwesto ang tanging kalayaan na lamang na maibibigay sa kanila.