Fasting detainees want food money to go to storm victims

Andrea Rosal. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The political detainees who will go on a hunger strike during Pope Francis’ visit this week want the money normally spent for their meals donated to typhoon victims.

This was expressed in a letter to the Pope by 32 political prisoners in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City who asked the Pontiff to intervene with the government for their release.

The three-page letter was furnished the media on Sunday by human rights group Karapatan.

The detainees include accused communist rebels Andrea Rosal, Alan Jazmines, Tirso Alcantara, Loida Magpatoc, Emeterio Antalan and Leopoldo Caloza.

In the letter, the detainees said they started fasting from dawn to dusk on June 10. On the Pope’s arrival on the 15th, they will stop eating completely until he leaves on the 19th.

They asked that the money for their meals for 10 days be donated to the victims of typhoons “Yolanda” and “Seniang.”

“As we will not be getting our food rations for 10 days, we are asking the jail authorities to donate, in our behalf, the savings… to the victims of Yolanda and Seniang,” they said in their letter.

“We estimate the amount to be at least P10,000. We ask that the donation be coursed through the International Committee of the Red Cross,” the detainees said.

Sought for comment, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology spokesman Insp. Aris Villaester said the agency had received the detainees’ request but it had yet to decide on it.

“But based on the guidance of our regional director, as of now, we will still give them their food rations. It is up to them if they want to eat it or not,” Villaester said in a phone interview on Monday.

“We are mandated to provide them their meals. I doubt their request can be granted as the budget is meant for their food and we cannot use it for other purposes because that would be malversation of funds,” he said.

Villaester said each detainee had a P50 daily food allowance.