Summary of Behind Bars: South Cotabato Jail, Philippines | World’s Toughest Prisons | Free Documentary

00:00:00 - 00:45:00

This video explores the conditions at South Cotabato Jail in the Philippines, where inmates are living in overcrowded and dangerous conditions. The prisoners interviewed talk about their struggles, including being separated from their families and the hope of eventual release.

• 00:00:00 South Cotabato Jail is one of the toughest prisons in the world, and it is overflowing with inmates. The average temperature is 35 degrees Celsius, and most of the prisoners are awaiting a verdict. Many of them are convicted murderers, drug dealers, or rapists, but on the inside, it doesn't matter. All that matters is their survival.
• 00:05:00 South Cotabato Jail is a crowded, hot, and dangerous place where new prisoners must start from nothing and compete for limited resources. Ranil, a new inmate, must endure 15 days of solitary confinement before becoming integrated into the prison hierarchy. If he succeeds in staying out of trouble, he may eventually become a cell leader.
• 00:10:00 The narrator of the video is a prisoner in South Cotabato Jail in the Philippines. He talks about the hierarchical system within the prison and the privileges that the "president" (a powerful figure within the jail) enjoys. He also mentions that the guards leave the most important job of enforcing the rules to the "marshals" (members of the president's family who have been given power and status within the jail).
• 00:15:00 The video, filmed in South Cotabato Jail in the Philippines, describes the harsh conditions faced by prisoners, some of whom have been in jail for years. The overcrowding and lack of access to food and water are among the main challenges faced by the prisoners. One prisoner, Ronnie, has managed to survive one night behind bars.
• 00:20:00 In this video, we follow Neil, a new inmate in South Cotabato Jail in the Philippines, as he waits to be let out to see his wife and children. Many of the inmates, like Neil, are burdened with thoughts of family at home. Janelle, a 35-year-old prisoner accused of embezzlement and fraud, shares his story of desperation and how living in jail has been incredibly difficult. Ronniel, a new inmate, has to work to earn the privilege of cooking his own food. Despite the challenges, they all manage to find ways to cope.
• 00:25:00 South Cotabato Jail is overcrowded, hopeless, and characterized by psychological strain for inmates who have been waiting years for their trials or verdicts. The documentary follows the stories of three inmates, two of whom are waiting for over 15 years.
• 00:30:00 This video explores the tough conditions at South Cotabato Jail in the Philippines, where inmates are strictly forbidden from possessing guns and knives, and must rely on their wits and strength to survive. The prisoners also have to contend with the constant threat of smuggling contraband into the prison, as well as the constant efforts of the guards to find and punish the inmates' owners.
• 00:35:00 Visiting day at South Cotabato Jail in the Philippines is a time for family and friends to visit their loved ones incarcerated. The day is difficult for the guards and prisoners, as they have to check for contraband, and many prisoners can only watch as their families visits them. One man, Romeo Gomes, tries to make money by selling houses he builds on visiting day. He has not seen a single visitor in 15 years.
• 00:40:00 In this video, prisoners in the South Cotabato Jail in the Philippines describe their lives and the challenges they face. One prisoner, Romeo Gomez, has been waiting for a hearing on his case for over two years, and his family has given up hope that he will be released. The other prisoners describe their struggles, including being separated from their children and the hope of eventual release.
• 00:45:00 This video describes the life of Romeo Gomez, a 35-year-old Filipino man who has been incarcerated in South Cotabato Jail, one of the toughest prisons in the world. Gomez is scared of the future and is uncertain about his chances of being released.