Group calls for release of political prisoners

AN organization of former political detainees urged President Benigno Aquino III to free all political prisoners in the Philippines.

The Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Para sa Amnestiya or SELDA said at least 402 political prisoners are still languishing in jails.

Marie Hilao Enriquez, SELDA secretary general, said it is just to release all victims of illegal arrest and arbitrary detention during the past administrations.

“Political prisoners, whom the government has charged with fabricated common criminal cases, are worse off because most of them suffered torture and inhumane treatment during their arrest,” she said in a statement.

Enriquez cited the “Morong 43″ health workers and doctors who were arrested last February 6 and are still currently detained at Camps Bagong Diwa and Capinpin; the case of Myrna Cruz, a former teacher and a consultant of farmer organizations in Cagayan; the case of Angie Bisuña-Ipong, the 60-year old lay leader who was abducted and missing for two weeks in March 2005, before she was surfaced in the Pagadian City Jail and is still incarcerated; as well as those of hundreds of others in other jails in the country.

Report from Mindanao Examiner