Supported by 550 other inmates, the 12 who are political prisoners expressed “dismay” against the Aquino government’s continued refusal to grant them freedom.
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Six days into their hunger strike, 12 inmates in Compostela Valley Provincial Rehabilitation Center (PRC) held a noise barrage and occupied the jail’s rooftop, three times on Saturday.
Supported by 550 other inmates, the 12 who are political prisoners expressed “dismay” against the Aquino government’s continued refusal to grant them freedom.
“We condemn the Aquino administration for declaring there are no political prisoners in our country,” Juniel Cabe, a PP, told davaotoday.com in a text message.
In October 2011, Malacañang spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the country has “no political prisoners” a statement readily refuted by the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda) who said there are a current total of 385 political detainess nationwide.
In Southern Mindanao, there are 24 PPs, a figure that the regional Commission on Human Rights, through Director Albert Sipaco, has confirmed.
“We demand, no less, for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in the country,” Zaldy Cañete, also a political detainee, told Davao Today.
Cañete or ‘Ka Jinggoy,’ was a New People’s Army commander after he was severely wounded in a raid on February 2010. He currently faces 20 criminal raps ranging from kidnapping with serious illegal detention, multiple counts of murder, multiple counts of robbery and theft.
Meanwhile, Cabe was detained since 2007. He was slapped with eight criminal cases including illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, robbery with homicide, multiple counts of murder and theft.
According Selda, “most of the criminal charges aim to keep the prisoners in jail while court hearings proceed at snail’s pace.” It added, “besides criminalizing political offenses, PPs suffer degrading treatment and inhuman prison condition such as torture, isolation, harassment, curtailment of visitation rights, overcrowding, poor ventilation, insufficient and hardly nutritious food rations, lack of medical and other facilities, arbitrary and discriminatory regulations, among others.”
Cabe said they don’t have budget for medicines and potable water. They are also complaining against the new visitation schedules.
Cañete said they have been pushing for two additional courts to fast-track court hearings. Schedule of hearings of individual cases has a gap of about eight to nine months.
The detainees started their weeklong hunger strike, July 16, as they pressed the demand for a “general, unconditional release and omnibus amnesty.”
The call aims to be granted to all political prisoners or alleged political offenders; those arrested, charged or detained for political offenses or for any act in furtherance thereto; those arrested, charged or detained for common crimes but in fact are alleged acts in pursuit of one’s political beliefs; and those who allegedly committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and other laws; Provided that amnesty shall not cover…crimes committed for personal ends.”
Twenty-two other political prisoners are detained in different facilities in the region: 10 in ComVal PRC; three in Davao City’s Maa City Jail and one under hospital arrest in Southern Philippines Medical Center; three in Digos City’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP); two in North Cotabato’s Ammas Jail in Kidapawan City; two in Davao del Norte’s Davao Penal Colony; and one in Davao Oriental’s BJMP in Mati City.
Cabe gave Pres. Noynoy a failing mark, two days before the latter’s third State of the Nation Address. The political prisoners also challenge the Aquino government to continue peace negotiations between the Philippine Government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and realize its promise to release all political detainees including NDFP consultants.
In a statement, former political prisoner and Selda’s secretary general Angie Ipong said, “Political prisoners will muster all their efforts until Noynoy Aquino heeds their call. Steel and concrete high walls can’t prevent political prisoners from fighting for justice and freedom.”
Within two years or since Aquino came to power; 107 farmers, indigenous peoples, activists and suspected rebels were arrested and detained.
Also in hunger strike are political detainees in Medium and Maximum Security in New Bilibid Prisons, Male and female dorm of Special Intensive Care Area Camp BagongDiwa, Metro Manila District Jail, Camp Lapu-lapu Central Command in Cebu, Victorias City Jail in Negros Occidental, Iloilo Provincial Integrated Jail, Calbayog Jail, Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail and in Isabela Provincial Jail. (Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan/davaotoday.com
