SELDA says no to Marcos burial at “Libingan ng mga Bayani”

Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Chairperson of Karapatan and SELDA (an organization of former political detainees, mostly detained during the martial law era) today called on President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to “be more circumspect” on the issue of the burial of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.

“The Marcos family has not even apologized to the Filipino people for the plunder of the nation’s coffers during in the more than 20 years that they were in power. There is no remorse,” Hilao-Enriquez added.

“Burying Marcos, Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is what the Marcos family wants the most for it will pave the way to clear Marcos’ name from the numerous human rights violations he committed during Martial Law,” she said.

SELDA instead urged the President-elect to order the GPH Claims Board to hasten the process of recognition and indemnification of the martial law victims, which has taken a longer time than what is stated by law. SELDA members spearheaded the class suit filed against Ferdinand Sr. in Hawaii. The plaintiffs succeeded in the court case as the Hawaii Federal Court, and later the US Supreme Court found Marcos guilty of human rights violations.

“We, families of victims refuse to bow down to one family’s desire to do what they like to do just because they belong to a powerful few. Let it be remembered that the Marcos family was kicked out by the Filipino people in 1986. That they were able to come back to the country is more than enough. It’s time to stop the haughtiness the Marcoses are displaying. They must return all the money they stole from the national  coffers and render justice to the people they victimized.” Hilao-Enriquez concluded.

Hilao-Enriquez is among the initiators of the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang, which campaigned against the vice-presidential bid of Bongbong Marcos.

I am… Rhea Pareja (feat. Mara Lopez)

Political prisoner Rhea Pareja, 26 years old, is currently detained at the Female Dorm of Taguig City Jail.

#FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners

I am… Arlene Panea (feat. Boom Latorre)

Political prisoner Arlene Panea, 26 years old, is currently detained at the Taguig City Jail Female Dorm. #FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners

Women political prisoners join call vs the return of Marcoses to Malacanang

The women political prisoners at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City express their fullest solidarity with the convenors of the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang (CARMMA).

Allowing the late dictator Marcos’ son Bongbong to become vice president and be just a heartbeat away from the presidency would be the height of injustice to the tens of thousands of victims of martial rule.

Having another Marcos in Malacañang would be the final straw, coming on top of the many other martial law features that endure to this day.

Virtual martial law still exists in vast areas of the Philippine countryside, where the AFP and PNP hold civilian authorities in contempt as troops conducting military operations run roughshod on the people’s rights.

The current massive displacement of entire communities of peasants and national minorities in Mindanao and elsewhere due to foreign large scale commercial mining mirrors the forced evacuation of Cordillerans from their villages due to the Marcos dictatorship’s Chico River Dam project.

The persistence to this day of human rights violations such as extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, torture and warrantless arrests, searches and seizures are all daily reminders that martial law has left more than just vestiges in today’s society.

The fact that none of the dictator’s martial law decrees has been repealed by his successors attests to the unbroken thread of repression from the era of dictatorship to the so-called democratic governments that succeeded it.

To illustrate, more than half of the women political prisoners currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa and arrested under Benigno Aquino III’s term face trumped-up charges of violating PD 1866 (illegal possession of firearms), one of martial law’s many draconian measures still frequently invoked by military and police authorities today to put political dissenters behind bars and treat them like ordinary criminals.

Taking after Marcos plunderous record, all Philippine presidents who succeeded him have also concocted their own patented versions of raiding the nation’s coffers and bleeding the country dry.

Such ongoing political thievery and violations of human rights are occurring against a continuing backdrop of subservience by successive Philippine governments to US political and economic dictates. When it comes to violating the people’s rights, persecuting those who uphold these rights, maintaining kleptocracies, and serving as puppets to foreign interests, there has not been much to distinguish Marcos Sr. from those who came after him. Bongbong’s record gives us no reason to believe that he will be any different.

The job of undoing the Marcosian legacy will take much more than preventing Bongbong or any other Marcos from reoccupying Malacañang. But thwarting his presidential ambitions will be a necessary step in this effort.

Signed

Loida Magpatoc (NDF peace consultant)
Rosanna Cabusao-Silva
Gemma Carag
Marissa Espedido
Presentacion Estrada-Saluta
Pastora Latagan
Joyce Latayan
Evelyn Legaspi
Winona Onate-Birondo
Rhea Pareja
Miguela Peniero
Maria Miradel Torres

Political prisoners go on fast, call for release and end to criminalization of political acts

In time for the International Day of Solidarity for Political Prisoners today, human rights group, Karapatan hold protest at the Manila RTC for the hearing of Tiamzon et al, at the Justice Department in Manila. PHOTO by Kathy Yamzon

News Release

3 December 2014

Countdown to International Human Rights Day

Political prisoners in the Philippines launched a seven-day fast today, as members of the International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS) commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners. The fast will last until December 10, International Human Rights Day.

Close to a hundred political prisoners in different jails in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao announced participation to the fast to call for their release and as a gesture of solidarity to various people’s protest actions leading to December 10.

Those fasting are political prisoners in various detention centers in Metro Manila, at the Special Intensive Care Area-Metro Manila District Jail (SICA-MMDJ) and Taguig City Jail-Female Dorm in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City; New Bilibid Prisons-Maximum Security Compound in Muntinlupa City; and PNP Custodial Center in Quezon City.

In the provinces, fasting political prisoners are those detained in the following jails: Aurora Provincial Jail in Southern Tagalog; Ormoc City Jail, Tacloban City Jail, and Dancalan Provincial Jail in Bobon, Northern Samar and Bohol Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the Visayas; and in Valencia City Jail, Malaybalay City Jail, Gingoog City Jail, Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Misamis Oriental, and Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao. Jailed peace consultants of the National Democratic Front are also joining the fast.

Some political prisoners will also hold noise barrages and hanging of streamers as protest. These activities culminate on Human Rights Day, “as their way of highlighting the government’s practice of criminalizing political actions and filing trumped up charges against those perceived as ‘enemies of the state’,” said Jigs Clamor, SELDA national coordinator.

As support to the political prisoners, various progressive organizations led by Karapatan and SELDA held picket actions today at the Manila Regional Trial Court and at the Department of Justice.

The protesters first went to the Manila Regional Trial Court for the hearing of the multiple murder case against peace consultants Benito Tiamzon, Wilma Austria-Tiamzon, Randall Echanis, Raphael Baylosis, Vicente Ladlad, and Makabayan Coalition Chair Satur Ocampo.  The case is considered the “mother” of all trumped-up charges implicating Ocampo et al in a supposed mass grave found in Monterico Village, Baybay Leyte. All those accused in the case, except the Tiamzon couple are on conditional bail.

Joined in by Manilakbayan from Mindanao and Karapatan-Southern Tagalog, the protesters marched to the Justice Department. “This department cannot simply say they cannot do anything on these trumped up cases lodged against political prisoners,” Clamor said. “The military weaves stories with prosecutors so they can arrest and detain people who are actively defending their rights and their communities,” he added.

As of November 2014, there are 491 political prisoners, 220 of them were arrested under the BS Aquino regime. There are 43 female political prisoners, 53 are ailing, 42 are elderly, and six are minors.

“The political prisoners are not the enemy of Filipino people. The plunderers and those who perpetuate human rights violations, killings, disappearances, torture and harassment are those who should be jailed. We need the political prisoners back in the streets and in the communities to continue their selfless work and advocacies. They should be immediately released,” he concluded. ###

Reference: Jigs Clamor, SELDA national coordinator, 0999-7721233

Political prisoner Torres to give birth soon

Press Release | Karapatan.org

Pregnant political prisoner Maria Miradel Torres

Political prisoner Maria Miradel Torres, 26, is expected to deliver her baby today, November 19, 2014. She was brought to the Philippine General Hospital yesterday for a check-up but she was immediately admitted after undergoing medical examination.

Torres, a member of Gabriela in Mauban, Quezon, was four-months pregnant when she was illegally arrested on June 20, 2014 in Lucena by joint elements of the Philippine National Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and Southern Luzon Command (SoLCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. She is charged with murder and frustrated murder at the Infanta Regional Trial Court, Quezon province. The alias warrant of arrest used to “capture” Torres was issued by the court only on June 20, 2014, on the day of her arrest.

“Torres should be immediately released for just and humanitarian reasons. Aside from the utterly baseless charges against her, the BS Aquino government is committing further injustice by depriving her and her baby a healthy and nurturing environment in keeping her detained,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan Secretary General.

According to Torres, she was not examined by BJMP Doctor Dr. Jaime Claveria Jr. since she was transferred to the Taguig City Jail-Female Dorm on June 25. Despite doctor’s order for complete bed rest due to threatened abortion, Torres was transferred to Taguig City Jail in Camp Bagong Diwa from Camp Gen. Guillermo Nakar Station Hospital at the Solcom headquarters in Lucena City.

At the TCJ-FD, Torres shares the detention cell with three other inmates. One of the inmates reportedly has tuberculosis. Torres was assigned to sleep on the third deck of the bed. BJMP personnel confiscated her medicine and supplements for pregnancy upon admission at the Taguig City Jail.

On November 7, Judge Arnelo Mesa of the Regional Trial Court Branch 65 in Infanta issued a joint order directing Jail Warden Jundelina Jagunap to “bring the person of the accused detainee Maria Miradel Torres to her alleged OB Gyne Dr. Melissa Amosco for her medical check-up and likewise said warden is ordered also to bring the person of the accused to said hospital (PGH) whenever her due date for the delivery of her baby will arrive to be properly provided with appropriate number of jail guards/escorts and to stay at the said hospital for one week including her delivery date and thereafter to immediately return her to her detention facility.”

Said court order however was only received on November 17. Torres has been suffering from cough and fever since November 15.

On November 18, Torres was brought to the PGH along with 10 jail guards. She underwent ultrasound procedure for the first time since her arrest. Torres is expecting a baby boy.

Torres is among the 487 political prisoners in the country to date, 53 of them are ailing and 40 are elderly. More than 200 of them were illegally arrested under the BS Aquino administration.

On the evening of June 20, 2014, elements from the PNP and Solcom forcibly entered the house in Ilayang Ilam, Lucena City, Quezon province where Torres stayed. A policeman said Torres was under arrest for being a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) using the aliases “Alex,” and “Sydney.” Torres insisted to see the warrant of arrest but she was not shown any.

Torres, who was then four-months pregnant, was confined at a hospital in Quezon province from June 11 to 18 due to profuse bleeding. During her stay at the hospital, several men inquired about Torres. A female who introduced herself as “Flor” and who claimed to be the provincial governor’s aide offered assistance. On June 18, Torres was discharged from the hospital and went home to Ilayang Iyam. While traveling home, she and her companion noticed men following them.

While at the TCJ-FD, Torres was brought to Taguig Hospital due to continuous heavy bleeding. She was hospitalized from July 3 to August 11. She was brought back to the hospital for a follow-up check-up twice after her confinement but she did not undergo ultrasound procedure.

“The Aquino administration should release Torres and all political prisoners, especially those who are sick and elderly. The charges against them should be withdrawn or dismissed. The filing of trumped up charges as a policy of the BS Aquino government is an attack against the fundamental right of individuals and peoples to liberty and the people’s exercise of political and civil rights, as it is a desperate tactic to quell the people’s rising discontent against his administration,” Palabay ended. ###

Political Prisoners of Batangas call for Donation

Friends and families!

This coming December 1-10, 2014 marks the commemoration of the International Human Rights Week. In line with the upcoming event, we the political prisoners in Batangas are planning to launch two major activities to raise the awareness of our fellow inmates about their human rights.

One is the “Mural Making Activity” where in we want to encourage all our fellow inmates to express themselves through painting and at the same time be educated about the human rights situation in the country and to be aware of their rights as an inmate. Another is to launch a “Gift Giving Activity”, a reach-out project from the initiatives of the political prisoners in Batangas, to help all the detainees of the Batangas Provincial Jail in their basic necessities and at the same time, to express our gratitude for the years that they have been supporting us in our plight.

In line with this, we are humbly knocking on your generous hearts to seek for help. For the Mural-making activity, we are in need of latex or semi-latex paint (different colors), paintbrushes and paint thinners. For our Gift-giving activity, we are in need of dry goods like noodles, sardines, coffee, and toiletries like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc good for 850 inmates.

For those who are willing to help, we accept help in kind or in cash. Your humungous help can be sent through LBC at this address (Maricon Montajes, Batangas Provincial Jail, Brgy. Cuta, Batangas City). We are hoping for your most positive response. And through these efforts we are hopeful that it will help hasten our freedom. Thank you very much for your generosity and support! Please send us a message if ever you are interested to help.

Maricon Montajes and the Batangas Political Prisoners