With eight days before the May 9 elections, Bulatlat takes a look at the senatorial candidates’ statements on the ATA as well as their stance on peace talks and on political prisoners.
Tags: political prisoners
Rights group says PH jails ‘least safe from Omicron’
“The extreme congestion of Philippine prisons create a perfect petri dish to seed immense infections by the highly transmissible Omicron variant.”
Group welcomes release of longest-held political prisoner
“We commend the decision of the court and we hope this will presage more releases of political prisoners who are foisted with trumped-up charges in retaliation for their activism or to make them the fall guy to take the blame for NPA operations.”
Guilty Imelda still free as elderly, ill political prisoners remain behind bars
These 17 cases of political prisoners highlight the injustices of the times. The calls for their release remain amid the continued freedom of a dictator’s wife known for her Imeldific lifestyle.
Palawan court denies ailing political prisoner’s plea for compassionate release
“It should bother everyone but it doesn’t bother the court why a bedridden old man, completely disabled and incapable of any self-care, cannot benefit from the equity of the law that was used in principle to grant bail for jailed and convicted politicians accused of non bailable high crimes.”
‘Political prisoner Lino Baez was tortured’ – rights group
Lino Baez recounted what was done to him, which included “beatings, pressing the barrel of a gun to his chest, and applying a chemical to his blindfold which made him nauseous.” Baez was also frequently interrogated by state forces, insisting that he was a top-ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Rights group demands explanation on solitary confinement of political prisoner
Karapatan-Southern Tagalog is asking the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Mimaropa and the Regional Trial Court Branch 81 for an explanation to the allegations that Maria Teresa Dioquino is being held in solitary confinement and harassed by military intelligence officials.
Political prisoners who fought dictators then and now
Bulatlat compiled short accounts of consultants and staff of the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, who were arrested and jailed during the dark years of the dictatorship but are now incarcerated for their continuing fight for a genuinely free country.
Political prisoner in critical condition after jail shootout
Jeffrey Bajo Delos Reyes is currently at the provincial hospital in Calapan City and is in critical condition after being shot in the head. He is 37 years old and has been in jail since September 2016.
SC asked to revisit cases of political prisoners arrested due to ‘warrant factories’
“The Supreme Court cannot ignore the plight of the victims of search warrant factories who have become political prisoners,” said Kapatid Spokesperson Fides Lim, adding that at least 76 activists have been arrested due to search warrants issued by Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert.
#UndoingDuterte | Five years of state terror
Under the Duterte administration, Karapatan has noted a pattern of using search warrants issued by executive judges in Quezon City and Manila regional trial courts to conduct police and military raids on homes and offices of the progressive leaders and activists which led to the killings or if not, end up arrested after supposed “evidence” were gathered by the authorities.