DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 28, 2011) – Hundreds of prisoners in the southern Philippine city of Tagum in Davao del Norte province staged a hunger strike on Monday – the second since last month – to demand for the speedy and fair trial and improvised penal services among other legitimate grievances.
Angie Ipong, who heads the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), an organization of former political prisoners, said the prisoners at the in Compostela Valley Provincial Rehabilitation Center were also demanding additional courts to expedite resolution of their cases, medical services for the sick and elderly and the unconditional release of all political prisoners.
She said only one court with a lone judge is handling over 3,000 cases. Among those being held in prison are 16 political detainees. Some 500 inmates charged with common crimes started their hunger strike to call on President Benigno Aquino to heed their legitimate demands.
In October, the prisoners also held a similar strike and noise barrage after authorities failed to heed their demands.
“A newly formed organization called “Kalumonan” which is made up of families and relatives, and friends of political prisoners, has joined SELDA and the human right group Karapatan in Mindanao called on citizens and other human rights organizations to help the prisoners in pressing for their legitimate demands,” Ipong said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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