NUPL protests Arroyo birthday furlough

THE National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) branded as “double standard” the Supreme Court’s decision allowing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a three-day hospital leave to celebrate her birthday at her house in La Vista, Quezon City.

Arroyo, who will turn 69 on April 5, was given a three-day birthday furlough beginning 8 a.m. of April 4, 2016 to 5 p.m. of April 6, 2016.

The former president is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC). She is facing plunder case before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the alleged misuse of P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds.

“With these, can we blame the ordinary mortals when they ask again with all candor and confusion is this not Exhibit ‘A’ for double standards and preferential treatment for a few who are luckier than others,” NUPL Secretary General Edre Olalia asked.

“How can we as lawyers with all confidence, credibility and fortitude say it ain’t so,” he said.

“Is she going to enjoy this privilege every year hence lest someone misses the party? On such an outstandingly petty whim, a high-profile, well-connected and rich detention prisoner facing serious charges of corruption will enjoy what thousands of others can never even imagine. For those staying behind, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth,” he said.

Olalia pointed out that every one, even those who have less in life, deserves humanitarian treatment.

He mentioned a number of political prisoners who died in detention, including Crisanto Fat, 48, a peasant leader, in 2011 due to heart attack; Alison Alcantara, 55, on Sept. 16, 2013 due to pneumonia, sepsis and fatal arrhythmia; Benito Barid, 54, on Sept. 18, 2014 due to chronic asthmatic bronchitis and Eduardo Serrano, 62, on Jan. 8, 2016 due to lingering heart ailment.

Serrano died in prison despite being acquitted by two Regional Trial Courts in Quezon City.

The Quezon City Court said the law enforcers made a mistake arresting Serrano for murder charges committed by a certain Rogelio Villanueva.

“The representatives of the State miserably failed its primary duty to identify the identity of the accused at the cost of horror of Serrano being prosecuted for 11 bygone years,” QCRTC Branch 98 Judge Marilou Runes-Tamang said.

Olalia said aside from the political prisoners who died, there are also those aging and seriously ill political prisoners like Adelberto Silva, Wilma Austria, Alexander Birondo, Ramon Argente, Sharon Cabusao, Concha Araneta and Tirso Alcantara among others, “need to go through the eye of the needle to get adequate, let alone prompt, medical attention.”

He also mentioned Andrea Rosal who was arrested for murder while she was pregnant. Her child died. She was later acquitted by the court. Miradel Torres also gave birth while in detention.

“They were in squalid conditions you would not wish on the children of your most vicious enemies,” he said.

“God knows how many more countless, nameless, faceless detention prisoners are out there who are as sick and old or are suffering even worse than Mrs. Arroyo. And they were not even asking to celebrate their birthdays outside prison.  All they wanted was to be treated as human  beings,” Olalia said.

Last year, human rights group Karapatan called on the government to release political prisoners, specifically the elderly, the sickly and nursing mothers.

Two years ago, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda declared that the Philippines has no political prisoners.

However, records from human rights groups showed that as of November last year, there are 491 political prisoners, 220 of them were arrested under the Aquino administration. AC