93 Big Wok Stock Photos, High-Res Pictures, and Images - Getty Images

May 23,2024

Mother washes her child in a huge wok at the kitchen at Manila City Jail. 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 , Sputnik, Commando and Batang City Jail gang. Each gang has 400 to 800 members. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty