Kin of detainees stage picket at DOJ

MANILA, Philippines—Families of so-called political prisoners and their supporters on Monday urged President Benigno Aquino III to immediately act on the plight of their loved ones following the death of a political detainee at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

Led by the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), the group picketed the Department of Justice to “remind” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima of her supposed promise to facilitate the release of over 300 political detainees languishing in jails nationwide when she was still the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights.

“We’re not here to quarrel with Secretary De Lima.  When she was still the CHR chair, Secretary De Lima vowed to help us in working for the release of political prisoners,” Judy Ann Miranda, secretary general of Partido ng Manggagawa, said.

“We want to remind her of that promise,” she added.

Emmanuel Amistad, TFDP executive director, called on the President to institute a “national human rights plan” and review the guidelines of the Board of Pardons and Parole.

Amistad said that it would be best for Mr. Aquino to “follow the footsteps of his mother and release all political prisoners,” referring to the late democracy icon Corazon Aquino, whose second death anniversary was commemorated on Monday.

He said political prisoners across the country had embarked on a hunger strike since July 25 to press the government to act favorably on their conditions.