BLOOD RUSH By SARAH RAYMUNDO The liberal tide that once set apart emergent capitalism from feudalism’s obsolescence is now a plague that threatens all living systems. Neoliberalism aims to prolong capitalism’s lease on lives and labor by converting what the latter identifies as last frontiers into its own likeness. And it does this through the…
As of Nov. 30, there are 491 political prisoners in the country, based on Karapatan data. Of these, 220 were arrested under President Aquino’s term. There are 53 ailing prisoners, 43 female prisoners, 42 elderly, and six minors.
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During cross examination, the police officer who examined the skeletons of the alleged victims admitted that he arrived at the arrived at the crime scene at least 10 days after the digging at the massacre site began. Those who exhumed the remains, he added, may also be soldiers.
Lawyers of the accused filed a motion for reconsideration after Judge Thelma Bunye-Medina of Branch 32 had denied their earlier motion to quash information and to dismiss the case.
“Cha-Cha aiming to extend the term of Aquino and to disempower the Supreme Court poses an immediate threat while economic Cha-Cha poses long-term threats to the welfare of the nation.”
Citing several Supreme Court decisions, the lawyers argued that the charge of rebellion proscribes the filing of other offenses committed in furtherance of or in connection with rebellion.
Not like other personalities from the revolutionary Left such as Prof. Jose Maria Sison. Luis Jalandoni, Coni Ledesma, Fidel Agcaoili, and the late Tony Zumel, Wilma Austria and Benito Tiamzon were never thrust in the limelight, at least before their March 22 arrest. For the general public and the media, they are enigmatic.
Who are they? What is their background? What shaped them to become revolutionaries? How are they as a couple? How do they think and what are their thoughts about the country?
Their relationship was tempered by difficulties, hardships, living with risks, and the ups and downs of waging a revolution.
“Why should one stop when a lot has to be done to attain radical change not only for Filipinos but for other exploited and oppressed peoples as well?”
“Happiness is in the revolution,” Benito said, smiling. “I could not think of any other life. There is no other way. The revolution is not a burden, an obligation I perform with a heavy heart. It comes out naturally.”
“We are political prisoners who have been charged in violation of the Hernandez doctrine, People vs Hernandez (99 Phil 515,July 18,1956) People vs Geronimo (100 Phil 90,October 13, 1956) and therefore should be freed.” — Tiamzon couple