Youth groups launch campaign for release of political prisoners

Earlier in May this year, Former UP Faculty Regent Proj. Judy Taguiwalo, Act Teacher’s Party List Rep. Antonio Tinio accompanied three members of the Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (OCHRP) to visit Maricon and the Talisay 3 in the Batangas Provincial Jail in Batangas City. They were also joined by some relatives of the political prisoners.

The visit was facilitated by the office of Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto who responded to the letter of the Canadian organization, OCHRP, requesting permission to visit the political prisoners.

According to Taguiwalo, they met with the six political prisoners in the conference room of the Jail Warden where the six recounted the circumstances of their arrest, the torture they suffered during interrogation and the very slow movement of their cases.

“Some of the families such as Maricon’s find it difficult to visit regularly because of financial constraints,” she said. Maricon’s family is based in Davao,” she said.

Taguiwalo said that the detainees held a program for them consisting of song numbers and poetry reading. “One of the songs drew tears from the visitors as well as brought home the message of the reality that the six and all political prisoners are in prison for serving the people,” she said.

“Life in prison, especially in a jail like the Batangas Provincial Jail, with a capacity of around 150-200 but which has now over 500 inmates, is difficult and dangerous. The only wish of the six is for them to be freed soon so that they can contribute to building a just, humane and democratic society. They gave us thank you gifts of illustrated poems,” she said.

“Accused of being a criminal for wanting to serve the people.”

Mai Uichanco, Maricon’s friend in UP, wrote an affectionate testimony for her. They met when Maricon was a member of UP Sining at Lipunan (UP Silip) which is an organization based in the College of Mass Communication and she herself was a member of the college student council.

“Maricon is afraid to be hungry, she cries when she’s hungry. Her fashion sense was something that always got her noticed – we would frequently chide her for wearing clothes that were too revealing. When we said a temporary goodbye in May 2009, I hugged her, not only as a way of saying farewell but also in tribute and respect for how, in such a short time, she was able to strengthen her readiness to leave behind all means of comfort and begin a new life with the poor of the provinces and to document the lives of farmers through film and photography. “

“I had already known that she had dome something similar to this when in 2007 she went to live with the Kankaney communities as a resident photographer of the student publication Outcrop of UP Baguio. There she saw how the military destroyed communities and their way of life. She transferred to UP Diliman in 2008, and by then she was even more determined to learn about society and perhaps do something to alleviate its ills. She was not satisfied with participating only in student activities or helping in campaigns addressing issues concerning students. She wanted to be involved in efforts to help the working people. She left in May 2009. All of 21 years old. This is the age when an individual should be the most free: free to be and make friends, to discover new things she’s interested in, free to make mistakes, to be sorry, and to learn from her errors. Now she’s considered by this government as a criminal, and all because she wants to serve the Filipino people,” she said.

Jail Palparan

In the meantime, Anakbayan is demanding the arrest of retired Army general Jovito Palparan , as well as active military officials, for ‘contempt’ and ‘obstruction of justice.’ This in relation to the enforced disappearance of two UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court affirmed a decision by the Court of Appeals holding Palparan and several of his men responsible for the Cadapan and Empeno’s disappearance. Both Palparan and the current spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines continue to insist however that the two students are not in military custody.

Anakbayan chairman Vencer Crisostomo said that Palparan should rot in prison. According to him, there was an urgent need for a more active campaign to secure justice for the victims of military atrocities and more urgent actions from the government.

The group lauded the Supreme Court’s decision but lamented how it absolved former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and several of her Cabinet officials responsibility.

“This sets a dangerous precedent as the Aquino administration has established its own list of political killings and enforced disappearances. It protects presidents who are ultimately responsible for the military’s actions by virtue of being the ‘Commander in Chief.’ Perhaps they are simply thinking of the future in which Aquino will also face the same charges as Arroyo” Crisostomo said.
To galvanize public support for the release of Cadapan and Empeno, Anakbayan will hold a “fun run” June 26. (https://www.bulatlat.com)

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  1. Unless they prove their innocence rather than crying foul using “political repression” statement in the court, they are sure for the bars….Nuff said…

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