Family Life in Manila Jail

MANILA CITY JAIL, MANILA, PHILIPPINES - 2003/11/01: Veronica Delacruz, 30, with her husband Jaime, 34, outside their cell barrack at Manila City Jail. Jaime is a member of Batang City Jail, one of 4 major gangs in Manila. He is accused of robbery and has been in the jail for 7 years waiting for a trial. His wife Veronica and their 6 kids joined him voluntarily 3 years ago and share his cell. The family has no relatives or any house in Manila. The kids cannot play outside the barrack except on Sundays. Manila City Jail was built for 800 prisoners by the Spanish in the mid nineteenth century, and with today's tally of over 5000 inmates it is long overdue. The last big riot was in 1999 when 7 people, including a child died. Fights are still rampant, but the biggest killer is Tuberculosis, followed by asthma. In 2002 alone over 50 inmates succumbed to those respiratory tract diseases. This harsh environment is made all the worse by the fact that all the inmates are yet to be convicted. They are awaiting trial; that wait can last anything from four to nine years due to a very slow judiciary court system. The jail is divided in two different dorms; the biggest part is taken by Metro Manila's four gangs, Bahalagang (fearless), Sputnik, Commando and Batang City Jail gang. Each gang has 400 to 800 members. (Photo by Gerhard Joren/LightRocket via Getty Images)