Detained National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultants welcome reported dialogues to revive stalled formal peace negotiations with the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Government of the Republic of the Philippines, expressing hope to join the talks if efforts succeed.
“In the Philippines there is no such thing as finality when you are poor and political. Because if you are rich or the son of a king of a department, you are a very important prisoner, your case will get decided for 75 days but for the poor and political and those targeted by the government, there is no end to their legal problems.”
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.
Vicente Ladlad’s wife, Fides said that his accounts are not from the money laundering or terrorism financing but resulted from Republic Act No. 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013.
“ATC’s terrorist designation is just another nefarious device concocted by those who reckon they can and must go around or against the Constitution and the rules of law, fair play and common decency to silence those who speak and clamor for change.”
Kami ni Fides ay malugod na nakikiisa sa pagdiriwang ng ika-20 taon ng pagkakatatag sa Bulatlat. Ikinararangal naming dalawa na naging bahagi sa pagtatayo ng Bulatlat. Inilunsad natin ito sa kasagsagan ng kilusan para patalsikin ang rehimeng Estrada. Isang malaking achievement ng Bulatlat ang dalawampung taon ng tuluy-tuloy na paglalathala ng mga balita at impormasyon…
“The elderly and the sick are arrested on trumped-up charges while the convicted rapists are freed.”
“We are warning the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to desist from planting evidence against Ladlad and companions, as they have grown accustomed to justify the arrest and detention of peace advocates, rights defenders and civilians, based on trumped up criminal charges.”
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
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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“How can we claim to be under a democracy when a political prisoner continues to languish in jail even as all the trumped-up charges filed against her have already been dismissed?”