MANILA, Philippines - A party-list congressman and an ex-convict rejected Wednesday a proposal of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago to charge wealthy inmates hotel rates for the privilege to stay alone in separate jail cells.

Under the American “pay-to-stay” program, minimum security prisoners are allowed private cells, work release programs, Ipods, mobile phones, and computers. When an American is arrested for non-violent crime in any county or state, he can ask the judge for permission to complete the jail sentence in a “pay-to-stay” program.

Santiago said convicts will have to pay P500-P1,000 a day for the pay-to-stay privilege.

"The money will be used to improve the regular jail cells of ordinary prisoners in Bilibid. The government always says there's no money that's why ganun kadumi at miserable ang Bilibid. Maliban sa napakasikip, ang dumi dumi at ang pagkain halos hindi makain. If you are a new convict, paglabas mo ay hardened criminal ka na kung ganyan ang titirahan mo," she said in an interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda."

Santiago said inmates in the maximum or even medium security compounds in the New Bilibid Prison are ineligible for the pay-to stay program. She said that in the US, only minimum security convicts who are serving sentences for nonviolent crimes are eligible for the special privilege.

For his part, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the pay-to-stay proposal merely masks the problems of the country's penal system.

Colmenares, who was jailed for 4 years during the martial law period, said the pay-to-stay program runs counter to the philosophy of a penal system, which is rehabilitation. He noted that some US counties are already junking the privilege.

"One of the main reasons of our peace and order and crime rate is  injustice. Now we are going to perpetuate it in prisons. So getting the privilege will not be based on merits but only if you can afford it," he said.

The Bayan Muna lawmaker also opposed the proposal to build an "Alcatraz-type" prison island, noting that families will be unable to visit their loved ones who are in jail.

Rich-poor divide

Meanwhile, ex-convict Ghil Ilas, who stayed in jail for 16 years, said giving some prisoners more privileges would only heighten the rich-poor divide in jails.

Ilas said during his time in Bilibid and in Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan, there was a marked difference between rich and poor inmates.

"Napakalaking pagkakaiba sa presong meron at wala. Pag ikaw ay meron talaga, napakaganda ng kalagayan. Buhay prinsipe ka. Kung walang-wala, gapang ka sa hirap. Lulusong ka sa pagtatanim. Wala kang pang-PR. Kawawa naman," he said.

He said he also fails to see how giving a prisoner access to a computer or other privileges would be beneficial. Ilas said bribing jail guards was common during his time in jail.

No Shangri-La in Bilibid

Santiago said those who reject the pay-to-stay proposal do not fully comprehend it.

"Pag sinabing hotel rate akala nila siguro gagawa ng Shangri-la Hotel sa Bilibid at mamimili ng kwarto...Hindi ganun ang sistema. Sobrang sikip kasi doon. Bibigyan sila ng pribilehiyo na mag-isa sila sa kwarto nila. Yun lang ang babayaran nila. Hindi sila titira sa 5-star luxury," she said.

She reiterated that only minimum security prisoners charged with nonviolent crimes would be allowed the privilege. She said that in the US, some of those entitled to the pay-to-stay program were convicted for drunk driving, bouncing checks and "crimes without violence against people or society."

She also said implementing the proposal would do away with the bribery of jail guards and officials and lead to improvement of prisons.

"If we want Bilibid to get larger and have better conditions, where do we get the money? Education and health care hindi nga kaya ng gobyerno yan pang mga preso. Prisons are always the last priority. It should be self-sustaining," she said.