Almost a year after their warrantless arrest, detention and prosecution for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives, on Jan. 15 Rafael Baylosis and Roque Guillermo were ordered freed by a Quezon City court. Baylosis is a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in the GRP-NDFP peace talks, which President…
“The release of Baylosis is a victory, but hundreds more remain languishing in jails across the country. Along with the kin of political prisoners, other human rights advocates, and human rights lawyers, we will continue to work for the dismissal of charges against trumped-up charges against political prisoners.”
“Baylosis’s defense poked holes into their story, pointed out not only lapses but grievous procedural mistakes, and thus exposed concerted, malicious efforts to fabricate the charges.”
“Our lawyers have provided and complied with all their supposed requirements.”
By DEE AYROSO
‘Political prisoners are at a disadvantage in cases such as these, where conviction may be had on the sole testimony of the arresting officer.’
“He is a publicly known person involved in advancing the peace process.”
“With his arrest reminiscent of Marcos’ crackdown, this demonstrates how no person now is safe from the vicious and vindictive Duterte administration. As always, brute force and circumvention of the law are hallmarks of abuse of power and tyranny.”
The petitioners maintained that public prosecutor Rosulo Vivero committed “prosecutorial misconduct when he knowingly used recycled and falsified evidence as basis to file multiple murder charges.”
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Jurgette Honculada, a member of the GPH panel, said, “For peace talks to go back on track, the CPP-NPA-NDFP should disavow armed struggle.”
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Forging the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (Caser) is said to be the “meat” of the negotiations as it aims to resolve the root causes of poverty and lack of development in the Philippines.
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