TAGUM CITY – Political prisoners in southern Philippines who are currently on hunger strike have written Pope Francis and appealed to his intervention for their release.
The Pontiff arrived on Thursday in Manila for a four-day visit to the country. Political detainees at Compostela Valley provincial jail have sent a letter to the Pope pleading him to join their fight for justice.
Human rights group Karapatan said it documented 35 political prisoners who endure the hard life in prison cells over crimes that are fabricated.
“Kami nagpa-abot ug nagahangyo sa imong malumoong kasing-kasing nga mabati nimo among kahimtang sulod sa Bilangguan nga mahatagan una ug pagtagad ang among tagsa-tagsa ka mga kaso,” (We ask from your merciful heart to be one with us in our struggle that justice will be served in our cases),” the letter said.
In another letter from political prisoners in Malaybalay City in Bukidnon province said: “It has been our firm stand that to serve the people is not a crime but rather a conviction to persevere.”
Dominiciano Muya, a staff and agriculturist of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in Southern Mindanao Region, is among political detainees in Malaybalay. He was accused as being a leader of the New People’s Army rebels.
“We have been slapped with several trumped-up charges and projected in public as common criminals. Like other political prisoners, our basic human rights have continuously been violated day by day. Detention itself and the slow pace of justice proceedings in our country are witnesses to this prolonged agony inflicted on ourselves as well as to our families and relatives,” the letter reads.
Fe Salino, Secretary-General of Samahan ng mga Ex-detainee Laban sa Detention-SMR, said the Aquino administration has failed to recognize the legitimate demands of the people and is “insensitive to even filing criminal cases as a mask to hide the existence of political prisoners.”
Salino said they are hopeful that Pope Francis would see the real situation of human rights in the country during his visit “since he is critical in safeguarding social justice and is sympathetic to the people’s struggle.”
“Should the Pope take heed, it would be a very important statement and thrust the Philippine government into action to recognize and free all political prisoners,” Salino said.
In 1981 and 1995 Papal Visits of then Pope John Paul II, several political detainees were also released by the government after the Pope expressed his concern over the matter. (Mindanao Examiner)
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