HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

‘I’ve Packed My Things’
Political prisoner all set for freedom after 16 years inside prison

Days before his liberty, long-term political prisoner Donato Continente lays out his plans outside prison: to volunteer for a rights watchdog, help his inmates in their search for freedom, lead a campaign against the death penalty, a new haircut and a trip to the mall with his family. 

BY DABET CASTAÑEDA
Bulatlat 

Rowe, a top intelligence officer attached to the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group (Jusmag), which has a history of counter-insurgency in the Philippines, was gunned down by a group of assassins in April 1989. The colonel’s execution took place amid a series of attempted coups against then President Corazon Aquino and a snowballing movement opposed to the retention of U.S. military bases in the Philippines.

The New People’s Army (NPA) owned up to the assassination of Rowe and denied that Continente was involved.

Despite the NPA admission, the political nature of the alleged crime and the fact that he was tortured to force him to admit to the killing, Continente, along with principal accused Juanito Itaas, was sentenced by the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City to life imprisonment.

Upon review, the Supreme Court in 2000 reduced Continente's sentence to 12 year years of imprisonment at the minimum to 14 years and eight months, at the maximum. Including the time he was under military detention, Continente would have served 16 years - or two years more than what the high court had set. He has spent 14 years at the maximum security hall of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa, just south of Manila, where hardened criminals and a few other political prisoners are detained.

Thwarted twice

The human rights group Karapatan said that Continente’s release had been thwarted twice by the intervention of the U.S. government. He should have been released in 2001 when he had served his minimum sentence of 12 years or the following year when the Ramos government offered amnesty to political prisoners in peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

But on June 28 this year, Continente would have served his maximum sentence of 16 years. Marie Hilao-Enriques, secretary general of Karapatan and herself a political prisoner during the Marcos dictatorship, said, “The government would not have any legal or moral ground to continue his incarceration. He should be freed on that day.”

In his letter to this writer, Continente said that upon release he would probably volunteer for Karapatan or the Society of Ex-Detainees against Detention and for Amnesty (Selda) both of which have assisted him throughout his detention. 

As a human rights advocate, he said he would lend a hand to those who are still in prison and campaign for their immediate release. He also plans to lead a campaign for the abolition of the death penalty. 

The NBP’s death penalty hall, he said, is getting cramped as more people including minors are meted out the capital punishment. “Halos patung-patong na ang mga inmates dito na hinatulan ng kamatayan” (The number of inmates sentenced to die is piling up here).

Like others expecting to leave prison after a long time, Continente said he has had sleepless nights. Otherwise, he is thrilled that he would soon be together with his wife, Imelda, and their six-year old son, Jolo. Imelda is also with Karapatan. 

Imelda and Donat - as Continente is called by friends - met and married in prison. On June 28, it will be their chance to live together under one roof after 10 years of marriage. 

Doubly happy 

In the same press conference, Imelda told reporters that as a human rights advocate assisting political prisoners, she is always in high spirits when she sees detainees being freed. 

“Pero doble ang kasiyahan ko ngayon dahil sa wakas ay sariling asawa ko na ang lalaya” (But now I’m doubly happy because finally my own husband will be free), she said.  

Even Donat’s mother, Nanay Mila, could not hide her jubilation over her son’s imminent release. 

“Masaya ako, syempre, pero hindi lubusan dahil meron pa akong isang anak na nawala dahil sa pagkakulong kay Donato” (Of course I’m happy but not extremely because I my other son lost his life because of Donato’s detention), she said.

Nanay Mila was referring to 17-year old Romulo who died after hitting the pavement. Military operatives tried to abduct him while on board a bus.  

In previous interviews, Continente said that news of his brother’s death reached him while he was under interrogation. His military captors warned him that other members of his family would suffer the same fate if he does not own up to the killing of Rowe. 

“Nung mga panahong yun, kahit pagpatay kay Rizal aaminin ko” (At that time, I would even admit killing Rizal [the country’s national hero]), he said. After the release, Nanay Mila said they plan to visit Romulo’s tomb.  

Anxiety 

A picture of anxiety also painted the Karapatan office during the press conference. In so many words, the leaders, staff and Donat’s family dared the Macapagal-Arroyo government to release the controversial political prisoner without any hitches. 

“Sana wala ng pumigil sa paglaya nya” (I hope he would be freed without any problem), Imelda told the media.  

On June 20, Selda will hold a photo exhibit on political detention at the UP Vinzon’s Hall - exactly where Continente was abducted 16 years ago. 

While everyone is busy preparing for a big coming home party for Continente, Imelda said her husband is also busy packing his things, doing rounds at the detention halls of the NBP to bid goodbye to his inmates who, he said, have become his family inside prison.

Asked what surprise he plans to give to his father as soon he is released, Jolo said, “Ipapasyal ko si papa sa mall” (I will take Papa to the mall).

He has also one final thing to do before the big day – to have a new haircut. Bulatlat  

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