Groups demand halt to criminalization of political offenses
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — “Is it a crime to offer one’s life for the welfare of others?”
This was the statement of Angelina “Angie” Ipong
http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/02/20/philippines%E2%80%99s-oldest-woman-political-prisoner-released/
, former political prisoner, during a forum organized by the National
Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), Dec. 13.
Ipong was arrested on March 8, 2005 in Lumbayao village, Aloran town,
Misamis Occidental, by combined elements of the Philippine National
Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the
Southern Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). She was
held incommunicado for 14 days and was subjected to sexual molestation
and torture.
An advocate of the rights of peasants and indigenous peoples and a
member of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, Ipong
http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/03/21/angelina-ipong-talks-about-her-ordeal-as-political-prisoner/,
like most political prisoners, was slapped with common crimes such as
double murder, double frustrated murder, and arson.
“Political detainees who have already served long and completely
unjust sentences, continue to languish in jails; even as we have a
president who is the son of a political prisoner himself,” Edre Olalia,
NUPL secretary general, said.
“After six years [in detention], all the charges against me were
dismissed. There was no basis for prolonging my incarceration. That is a
terrible injustice to me,” Ipong said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares condemned the continuing criminalization of political offenses.
“Is it fair that a revolutionary is treated as nobody different from
the killers of Ramjen Revilla?” Colmenares said. Ramjen Revilla, who was
killed allegedly by family members, is the son of a former senator.
“The issue of political prisoners is an issue involving each one of
us. We should not be treated as criminals for the mere exercise of our
Constitutional rights,” Colmenares said.
In the same vein, Ipong, now secretary general of Samahan ng
Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda), said: “No one should
be imprisoned for his/her political beliefs.”..... MORE
Source: Bulatlat.com
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/12/16/groups-demand-halt-to-criminalization-of-political-offenses/
29. Alam n'yo kaya na ngayon ang ika-115 na pagdiriwang ng pinakaunang
labanan ng Himagsikan bago pa man ang pangkalahataang pag-aaklas? Ngayon
unang lum...
14 years ago
1 comment
bakit nga hindi sinusunod ng pamahalaan ito? palibhasa ang pamahalaang dilaw ay hindi marunong sumunod sa batas, kahit pa sa saligang batas na sila mismo ang gumawa.
"Colmenares said the government must abide by the People vs Hernandez doctrine and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
"The former refers to a Supreme Court decision in 1964 stating that all actions undertaken in the pursuit of a political objective are considered a single political offense. The latter is an agreement signed between then Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) upholding the Hernandez political doctrine. The CARHRIHL also stipulates that the GRP shall review the cases of all political prisoners who have been charged, detained, or convicted contrary to Hernandez political doctrine and shall immediately cause their release."
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