Human-rights group demands release of ailing political prisoner

Cristina “Tinay” Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan (Photo from her Facebook page)

A human-rights group urged the government on Saturday to release an ailing and elderly political prisoner for humanitarian considerations.

Karapatan Secretary General Cristina “Tinay” Palabay called on the government to release Marcos Aggalao, 74, whose health is deteriorating inside the Bureau of Jail and Management Penology (BJMP) in Tabuk, Kalinga. She said Aggalao suffered a stroke early July, paralyzing half of his body.

“There is no reason for Aggalao to remain in jail. This callousness of this government is infuriating, opting to release and hand out favors to the guilty and the rich, while condemning political prisoners to rot in detention,” Palabay said in a statement.

“His condition is deteriorating and he should be released based on just and humanitarian considerations,” she added.

Aggalao was arrested on September 10, 2016 for charges of murder, frustrated murder, robbery, and robbery with violence against or intimidation of person. He was temporarily released on bail shortly after his stroke when his family and friends raised and paid P100,000, but was again detained after a new set of trumped-up charges were filed against him in Baguio City, Palabay said.

Aggalao, for his new cases, would need another P300,000 for his temporary release.

The prisoner is also suffering from pneumonia, dementia, and hypertension, the group’s secretary general said.

Palabay reminded the Duterte administration that under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, the government is obliged to release political prisoners, especially those under humanitarian considerations.

“We will never tire to repeat that this is an issue of justice. Let Aggalao’s family care for him,” she said.

She said the government “keeps adding to the list of political prisoners” with 57 activists arrested under the Duterte administration. JPV