Lawyers Push for Immediate Release of One of Three Remaining Morong 43 Detainees

Lawyers Push for Immediate Release of One of Three Remaining Morong 43 Detainees

Atty. Julius Garcia Matibag of the National Union of People’s Lawyers and one of the legal counsels of the Morong 43, said they are hopeful that Edwin B. Dematera would soon be released because they have proven that he is not the same person being accused of rape before a Las Piñas court.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — One of the lawyers of the Morong 43 warned that prolonging the detention of the three who have remained in jail would be tantamount to arbitrary detention.

The Morong 43 are the health workers arrested on Feb. 6, 2010 in Morong, Rizal, by at least 300 combined elements of police and military. They were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives and were branded as members of the New People’s Army (NPA). On Dec. 17, 2010, the local courts in Morong, upon the order of President Benigno S. Aquino III, issued release orders for the 43. A week later, most of the detainees were released. Two more were freed before the year ended.

Three male detainees have remained at a high-risk detention facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, namely Edwin B. Dematera, Rogelio Villarisis and Mario delos Reyes. They are among the five cited by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as having pending warrants of arrest for what their lawyers call “ridiculous and spurious” charges..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/02/03/lawyers-push-for-immediate-release-of-one-of-three-remaining-morong-43-detainees/