Longest-held political prisoner longs for freedom
24 December 2010By JONAL JAVIER AND ANA RITA SUPAN
TASK FORCE DETAINEES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND VERA FILES
CHRISTMAS is a time for coming home. And so it came as no surprise when most of the health workers belonging to the “Morong 43” were released on Dec. 10, Human Rights Day. Less than two weeks later, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a military officer charged with leading a coup against the Arroyo government, was likewise freed after years of imprisonment.A lesser-known political prisoner also awaits freedom. His name is Juanito Itaas. He is one of more than 200 Filipinos still languishing in jail for offenses related to political crimes.
Most Filipinos would not know who Itaas is. But the most important American officials in the Philippines would.
That is because Itaas was accused of killing 21 years ago Col. James Rowe, then the chief of the Army Division of the Joint RP-US Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG) and the highest-ranking US military officer in the Philippines.... MORE
Source: Vera Files
URL: http://verafiles.org/frontpage-sticky/longest-held-political-prisoner-longs-for-freedom/
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