Dear friends: I am posting the story of one of our participants in the Community Bail Bond. This is our direct efforts to overcome the challenges in the Philippine Criminal Justice System. It is quite a long read as it describes the journey of individuals caught by our system and the challenges they face going back to the communities. But it is also a story of resilience, hope and restoration despite the seemingly unending odds. And to Theresa, we wish you well in your next journey in life.
Theresa hails from Samar, where she faced the hardships of growing up in a large family of ten children, all struggling with poverty. Her parents rely on fishing and rice planting to sustain their livelihood, yet they barely manage to make ends meet.
In her quest to provide for her family, Theresa made her way to Manila in 2018, where she joined her elder brother in search of employment opportunities. However, it wasn't until 2019, without any employable skills, that she found herself referred to an affluent household to work as their domestic helper.
Only 19 years old during that time, Theresa had no inkling of the trials that awaited her just a few months into her new job. Rather than the improved life she had envisioned for both herself and her family, this marked the onset of a grueling chapter in her life. Manila, as it turned out, had a lot of difficult challenges waiting, and it was much tougher than she expected.
Unfamiliar with the harsh realities of life in Manila, she unwittingly became a victim of a "budol budol" scam one fateful day while working alone. A deceptive caller managed to persuade her to surrender her employer's jewelry.
The scammer claimed that her employer had been in an accident and was urgently taken to the hospital. The scammer then instructed Theresa to destroy her employer’s cabinet and gather all jewelry and meet at a specified location to hand over the jewelry.
Theresa followed the scammer's instructions and gave away all the jewelry. The scammer successfully achieved their mission that day. Afterward, Theresa returned directly to her employer’s house.
Theresa was very confused when her employer came back home unharmed, with no accident at all. It was then she understood that the caller had tricked her. It felt like waking up from a strange dream, similar to when you snap out of being hypnotized.
Her employer accused her of qualified theft, and she was imprisoned in Paranaque City Jail in May 2019. Theresa spent more than three years behind bars because she couldn't afford bail.
During this time, she endured the harsh realities of prison life, while her family back in Samar also suffered, waiting for her to return.
During this challenging period, the PRESO Foundation Inc. ("PRESO Foundation") stepped in to offer much-needed assistance. This organization is dedicated to aiding first-time offenders classified as low-risk individuals incarcerated in jails. This means that Theresa will not be a threat to the security of the community. The PRESO Foundation played a pivotal role by furnishing the necessary PHP60,000.00 for bail, affording Theresa temporary freedom in November 2022 while her case remains pending. A jail officer made an arrangement to bring her home temporarily in Taguig and asked her to manage their sari-sari store, which was located a bit far from the jail officer's house.
As part of the PRESO Foundation's commitment to ensuring Theresa’s safety and well-being, it evaluated both the jail officer's store and house. After assessing the situation, they agreed to the terms that allowed Theresa to work at the store while attending her court hearings. Unexpectedly, this turned out to be another setback in Theresa’ s already difficult journey. During the monthly monitoring conducted by the PRESO Foundation case worker to track Theresa's progress and situation, they discovered that she had fallen ill. She was suffering from anemia, had become extremely thin, and was emaciated. As a result, she had to be hospitalized for a few days to receive medical care. It became apparent that Theresa was not receiving proper nourishment while staying with the jail officer. Isolated in the sari-sari store, where she was working alone, her health deteriorated to the point of exhaustion. The PRESO Foundation case worker couldn't help but feel sympathy for Theresa's situation.
As a result, Theresa temporarily stayed with the PRESO Foundation case worker in Pasig. She contributed to the household by helping with chores and was warmly welcomed by the family.
Theresa’s situation improved as the family did not only take care of her basic needs but also made sure she made it to her court hearings. However, despite their generosity, they were unable to provide her with a regular salary, which was still essential for her financial stability.
To tackle this challenge, another PRESO Foundation board member stepped in to arrange her transition to a friend in Marikina who could offer her both employment and fair compensation. In this new environment, she received the compensation she deserved and was looked after while her court hearings continued.
Despite her improved circumstances, Theresa held onto the dream of reuniting with her family. However, the court has yet to decide her fate, and the uncertainty looms large.
On June 7, 2023, against all odds, the situation finally swung in Theresa's favor. She was acquitted of all charges. The fact that she returned immediately to her employer's house after handing over the jewelry to the scammer served as compelling evidence of her innocence, demonstrating that she was not involved in the fraudulent act.
Theresa has a clear vision of her future, aiming to further her education through a vocational course offered by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Her anticipated start date for this journey is in 2024, a plan she enthusiastically shared with the PRESO Foundation upon her acquittal.
The PRESO Foundation's support doesn't stop after acquittal. It is committed to helping Theresa and all other acquitted PDLs reintegrate into society seamlessly. It will continue to assist her in her education and provide her with valuable skills to secure gainful employment or explore entrepreneurship opportunities.
After a separation of five long years from her family, Theresa finally returned to Samar on August 9, 2023. When asked about the most unforgettable memory from her ordeal, Theresa candidly recalled the time when she fell ill and a board member of the PRESO Foundation looked after her. Amidst her separation from her family, it was the sole instance she experienced compassion from other people. The once innocent and timid young woman has grown in confidence, thanks to the formidable trials she endured in Manila. Now at 24 years old, armed with newfound self-assurance, she is fully prepared to face whatever the future may bring in her life. Postscript: Theresa is planning to go back to school next year. Individuals or groups willing to support her journey can contact the www.presocbb.org To our jail partners: you can also refer cases of low risk first time indigent PDLs who cannot post bail.
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