MANILA, Philippines?The relatives of the 43 health workers that the military and police arrested on suspicion of being members of the New People?s Army have asked the Supreme Court to order the release of their loved ones.

In a petition for habeas corpus, the families of the health workers asked that their loved ones be presented before the Court and upon hearing be released immediately.

The petitioners include Roneo Clamor, deputy-secretary general of the human rights group Karapatan and husband of one of the medical workers arrested Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor.

?They were handcuffed. They were deprived of sleep. They were interrogated several times,? said Clamor, who was able to briefly talk with his wife at her detention in Camp Capinpin.

Renato Reyes, secretary-general of the Bagong Alyansan Makabayan, said the military and the police nabbed the health workers on the basis of an irregular search warrant and planted evidence.