The Convict [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 20

“Good afternoon, everyone. I’m Nicelle Morgan from Philippine Research Institute and this afternoon I will be presenting to your our case study that took place in the sole penitentiary state of the Philippines, Preso Toreros.”
 
A drone image of Preso Toreros flashed on the big screen behind Nicelle who is nervously talking in front.
 
“But before we start, I just want to acknowledge the presence of Ms. Michel Brunners and Mr. Alexander Zimmermann, our visitors from the beautiful country of Switzerland. As well as, Ms. Areil Gauthier from Canada and Mrs. Kimberly Scott-Murray from New York.”
 
Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao sa loob ng assembly hall sa malaking hotel kung saan ginanap ang kanilang presentasyon. The visitors waved and smiled at the audience.
 
Napatingin naman si Nicelle sa boss niya na nakaupo rin sa unahan katabi ng mga bisita nila. Her boss cheered her up for her presentation. Iginagala niya ang paningin sa pagbabasakaling dumating ang lalaking inimbitahan niya ngunit hindi na buo ang kanyang pag-asa. Pinanghahawakan niya na lamang ngayon ang pagpapayag nitong pagbubukas ng kaso.
 
She took a deep breath and smiled in the crowd again. She spotted her team who cheered for her as well. Nicelle walked in the middle of the stage with a microphone and presentation remote.
 
“’What is done cannot be undone, but at least one can keep it from happening again.’ This is a saying from Anne Frank.” She gave a sincere smile. “Truly, when it’s done, it’s done. One cannot turn back the time and say I should not do this. People unintentionally and deliberately make mistakes but at the very least, it should be kept from happening again. Kaya siguro ang mga taong nagkakasala ay pinapatawan ng kaparusahan na pagkakakulong para hindi na ulit sila makagawa ng krimen.  Incarcerating people disciplines them in a way that they reflect on the things they have done and inside their jails, they can focus more on their personal growth.”
 
The people watching her are so drawn on her words. She clicked the remote on her hand and flashed the next slide. It reveal a man on his cell sitting in a corner with his curled toes.
 
“This is Kaziel Angelo Zobel. Seven years ago he commited a crime that sentenced him to 25 years in prison. Out of that 25 years of his life, only 7 were expended, 18 years are still on the run. Kaziel is our main subject in this case study. We did series of interview and documentary of his life inside Preso Toreros. And here’s a bit of tour in their dungeon.”
 
Then a video played along Nicelle’s narration. Nakangiti sina Tim at Ronald nang mapanood ang finale ng mga kuha nila. Nicelle edited them including the sequence and they can’t help but regard her.
 
The video showed the huge gate of Preso Toreros, process of getting in, and entering the three long floor of building. Sa una’y puro pulis ang mga nakakasalubong nila pero habang papasok sila ng papasok ay iba’t ibang preso na ang nakukuhanan sa video. Malaya ang mga itong nakakapaglakad-lakad, nagkukwentuhan sa gilid, at mga nagkakasiyahan. Ipinakita rin nito ang malaki at maingay na kainan ng Preso Toreros. Halos manlabo ang mga kuha noon nina Ronald dahil sa usok sa loob.
 
Ipinalabas din sa video ang ilang mga pagluluto na naganap pati na ang paghahain ng mga pagkain.
 
“Ang galing pala talaga ni ma’am,” ani Kris
 
Sunod na ipinakita ay ang gym sa loob ng Preso Toreros kung saan palagiang nag-eehersisyo si Kaziel. Hindi mapigilan ni Nicelle na balikan ang mga pangyayari roon.
 
“This is the gym with few exercise machines for them. They use and clean them at the same time. Other than that they have a huge field for their exercise. Tuwing umaga nagkakatipon sila roon para mag-zumba. Exercising and dancing are few of the hobbies they developed while staying in Preso Toreros.”
 
As the video continues, ipinakita rin nito ang opisina ng Chief at ang mga ganap ng kanilang pag-uusap. Ganoon din ang clinic na may isang doktor at dalawang nurses. Dinaanan din nila ang nagdadamihang nakahanay na mga selda kung saan siksikan na rin ang mga nakakulong. Ang mga damit nila’y nakasabit pa sa kanilang rehas.
 
Some clips showed inmates playing cards. Naglalaro ito ng baraha sa loob ng mga selda nila at kuhang-kuha iyon sa mga video ni Tim.
 
“Oh my gosh. Natutuyuan pa ba sila ng pawis diyan?” Jessy commented
 
Nahagip din ng video ang Zone 5. Panghuling pinakita sa video ay ang quarter ng mga pulis. Pagkatapos niyon ni-pause muna iyon ni Nicelle.
 
“One of the saddest thing about Preso Toreros is that they don’t have a chapel. No one introduces them the words of God, which is a great help for them to reflect on their selves. Then, as we move on I’m going to show you how Kaziel Angelo Zobel lived on Preso Toreros.”
 
Kaziel’s routine of a day showed up in the big screen. From the day where he woke up and ate breakfast to his exercise routine in the outyard.
 
“This is my interview on him.”
 
Ang kinuhanan ni Tim sa pag-uusap nila ay kasalukuyang ipinapakita ngayon. Sunod naman ay ang mga kuha ni Ronald sa mga presong sumasayaw.
 
“As you can see their first activity in the morning is to work out and dance zumba. Their physical fitness is given concern through this. By around 9 in the morning they will be all required to get inside for breakfast. So, our next footage is all about their canteen.”
 
Ang nagkakagulong mga preso sa canteen ng Preso Toreros ay kuhang-kuha sa video na ipinapalabas. Maingay ang mga ito at naghahalakhakan habang kumakain. Nicelle’s interview with Kaziel at the canteen was presented.
 
“Preso Toreros served different foods as I, myself had experience. Ordinary serving of foods and dishes are served on the prisoners and with more specialty on the higher ups. For example, the policemen and someone higher than them. I, Ronald, and Tim were given the same plates as their bosses. On the other hand, mayroon din namang mga pulis na kumakain pa rin sa canteen.”
 
The presentation continued and it showed next where Kaziel reads a book inside his cell and does different exercises at the gym that is exclusive for Zone 5, which Nicelle never mentioned on her talk. Her interview about Kaziel and his favorite sport was played.
 
“Wow, ang gandang lalaki nga talaga ng mga Zobel,” komento ni Kris
 
“Oo nga. Look at that. Hindi lang gwapo maganda rin iyong katawan. Sinayang lang ni Mr. Zobel ang buhay niya,” dugtong ni Jessy
 
“True. Sana nga sa’kin niya nalang binuhos ang buhay niya. Alagang-alaga sana siya ngayon,” Tim added on the conversation of his friends.
 
Pinagkunutan lang siya ng noo nina Kris at Jessy.
 
“This one is some other cases inside Preso Toreros. Makikita ninyo ang kalagayan ng mga selda nila pati na rin ang mga nakakulong dito. I have randomly interviewed an inmate here and it was an old man who showed us more respect in conducting the interview.”
 
Nicelle’s interview with an old man was played. Hindi mapigilan ng mga nanonood na maawa sa kalagayan nito lalo’t pansin na pansin ang kapayatan ng matanda.
 
“Wala ba silang hiwalay na kulungan para sa mga katulad nila?” tanong ni Kris sa katabing sina Ronald at nabigyan iyon ng kasagutan sa muling pagsasalita ni Nicelle.
 
“Unfortunately there’s no separate cell for inmates at his age, which MUST be a huge consideration of reformatories.” Then Nicelle took a deep breath. “All I can say… nakakaawa ang karamihan sa kanila. That’s the worst place I’ve been in so far, but not because of the people there. It’s because I could not take it all. Lahat ng nakikita ko hindi maganda ang kalagayan nila.”
 
The video continued where Kaziel is about to sleep on his cell, until the deep dark night fall and the next day is a new morning again for everyone in Preso Toreros. Sunod nilang binisita ang paliguan doon. Nicelle was narrating on the video while showing how the bathing area works for the inmates there. Napanganga ang ilan sa sinabi niyang bulgarang mga naliligo roon na sabay-sabay din.
 
“Paano ‘yong mga babae?” Jessy asked
 
“Preso Toreros is a house for male inmates. There’s a separate penitentiary for women,” sagot ni Ronald
 
Napatango-tango naman ang babae. “Mabuti naman kung gano’n.”
 
“Other than their exercise activity, prisoners of Preso Toreros also do community service. Well… not in an actual community but they are asked to work in a field where they dig up soils and plant plants. They make vegetable gardens and there are inmates in-charged of taking care of them. Here’s another footage of Mr. Zobel tilling that rigid ground.”
 
Maliban kay Kaziel ipinakita rin ang iba pang mga nagtatrabaho roon.
 
“Sa Preso Toreros hindi ka kikilalanin, ano man ang pinagmulan mo,” Nicelle revealed to the crowd opposite from what she had known of Kaziel using his connections inside. But for her, her conscience is clean as she also saw Kaziel suffered for being always the target of clutters and arguments despite his origin. “As you all know, Kaziel Angelo Zobel is the younger son of the late Major General Philip Zobel who had a great leadership and influence on his colleagues and to the public. Kaziel is also a brother of a prominent businessman in the Philippines. In short, he came from a well-off family. However, as someone who made crime and was punished to spend his life in prison, Kaziel Angelo Zobel is paying hard for his ‘immoralities’ as what people quoted him.”
 
More of their documentary videos were flashed.
 
“One more, there are two types of visitation area for inmates in Preso Toreros. May tinatawag tayong public visitation area and private visitation area. Here is an access to their public visitation...” she showed them the video taken by Tim and Ronald. “We also had an interview… dito malayang nakakapag-usap ang mga preso at pamilya nila sa magkakasabay na oras. Unlike in a private visitation area, it will only be exclusive for up to two persons who can talk to the inmate at the same time. Here’s an image of their private visitation area where Mr. Zobel and I first met each other.”
 
Nicelle flashed an image.
 
“Parang ‘yong mga nakikita ko lang sa pelikula.” Jessy
 
“Mas madilim ang atmosphere riyan kumpara roon na para sa public.” Kris
 
“True. Para kang sinasakal diyan,” ani Tim
 
“Other than that, there are more processes when you want a private visit to a particular inmate of Preso Toreros. Additionally, we had an interaction with their Chief and we also had an interview with him which will be flashed next.”
 
The documentary film continued. It revealed more aspects of Preso Toreros and their prisoners.
 
After the long presentation, Nicelle got to smile. Sa wakas ay natapos din siya sa kanyang presentasyon. And now she’s down to her conclusion.
 
“I had such a great experience in Preso Toreros even for a short time. I came to know a lot of different things and had witness unusual scenarios that I didn’t know exists. Akala natin ‘yong mga pinapakita sa palabas ay hanggang doon lamang, pero hindi… because in reality, those unexpected things happens. Totoo na when we come out of our comfort zone, we will discover more bizarre things that will give us shock and at the same time a good life experience. This case study provided that for me and my team. Thank you everyone. This is the end of my presentation. Have a good evening.”
 
Bumalik si Nicelle sa podium niya saka sinarado ang folder niya roon. People clapped for her and with awe, she received an standing ovation from them.
 
 

***

Kaziel was at the morgue staring at the dead body of his father. He was standing there for an hour but he can’t feel an urge to cry.
 
“Hindi ko alam kung minahal mo ako, Dad. But I’m no longer mad at you. Galit na galit ako ngayon kay Ciaran dahil inalisan niya ako ng pagkakataon na matanong kayo ni mama kung bakit naging ganito ang buhay ko. I can’t blame you anymore and mom. Pero isa lang ang sisiguruhin ko sa inyong dalawa… Ciaran will pay for it including what he did to me and Jillian.”
 
Huminga siya ng malalim bago muling sinuot ang hood ng makapal at itim niyang jacket. Pagkatapos umalis siya saka bumalik sa hospital kung saan siya unang isinugod. Pagdating sa hospital naabutan niya ang kanyang abogado na naghihintay sa kanya.
 
“Mr. Zobel, mabuti naman dumating ka na.”
 
Kaziel removed his hoodie.
 
“Bakit? Ano pa'ng ginagawa mo rito sa ganitong oras?”
 
“May lead na kami sa kinaroroonan ng kapatid mo.”
 
His jaw tightened. “Saan?”
 
“He was first seen at the restaurant near this hotel.”
 
Ipinakita ng abogado niya ang larawan na nasa selpon. Kinuha niya iyon saka binasa ang nakasulat.
 
“Pakitingnan kung nag-check-in siya riyan.”
 
Normal ang bawat hakbang ni Kaziel patungo sa kanyang kama nang mapagtanto ang isang bagay. Dali-dali niyang hinanap ang pass ticket na ibinigay sa kanya ni Nicelle. Natagpuan niya iyon sa ibabaw ng mesa sa gilid ng kama niya. Binasa niya ang bawat salitang nakasulat doon. Lumapit ulit siya sa abogado niya saka pinatingnan ang hawak na ticket nito.
 
“Iisa ba ang lugar na ‘yan?”
 
Inangat nito ang ulo upang tingnan siya. Hindi naman siya mapakali.
 
“Oo, heto nga—
 
“Akin na ang susi ng kotse.”
 
“Bakit? Ano’ng—
 
“Give it! I need to save her from him. Please…”
 
Kalaunan walang nagawa ang lalaki kun’di ibigay ang susi sa kanya. Tumakbo si Kaziel palabas ng hospital. Dumaan siya sa likod upang hindi gaanong makakuha ng atensyon. He looked for the man’s car using the key on his hand. Nang matagpuan, agad siyang sumakay doon at humarurot papunta sa nasabing hotel kung saan naroon din Nicelle.
 
He looked at the time and it was already quarter to 10 in the evening. Kaziel stepped on the gas. His hands are tensed and he can’t think straight while knowing that Nicelle is in the same place as Ciaran who killed his ex-girlfriend, mother, and his father.
 
As he drove the car his breathing becomes heavier.

“This will be your end,” he whispered to himself.