Political prisoners continue to languish in Philippine prisons

Philippine human rights groups have expressed alarm over what they say is a growing number of political prisoners in the country.

Dec 11, 2015

MANILA: Philippine human rights groups have expressed alarm over what they say is a growing number of political prisoners in the country.

The increase is a result of the government's anti-insurgency policy, they said Dec. 3

"Many of the political prisoners have long been in jail," said Cristina Palabay of the human rights group Karapatan. "More are being added."

Of the 561 political prisoners in jail, 304 were arrested after 2010 when President Benigno Aquino came to power, according to data from Selda, an organization of former political prisoners.

Palabay said 20 peace consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the umbrella organization of the country's communist-led underground movement, are confined in jails and detention centers across the country.

Peace talks between the government and communist rebels stalled in 2013 after Manila refused to release the prisoners who the front said were part of their negotiating team.

"The consultants to the peace talks were illegally arrested," Palabay said, adding that their detention is in violation of previous peace agreements signed between the government and the rebels.

To mark the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners on Dec. 3, activists held a protest outside the Department of Justice in Manila to call for the immediate release of political prisoners.

"Hundreds of political prisoners are made to languish for years in Philippine prisons in wanton violation of their human rights," said Charisse Banez, chairwoman of the League of Filipino Students.

The youth leader slammed the government's Operation Plan "Bayanihan" (Cooperation) for allegedly causing the "massive abduction, arrests and detention of leaders of progressive organizations." 

"This has been the usual pattern in the government's hope of crippling progressive mass organizations," said Banez.

The Philippines' counter-insurgency policy, "Oplan Bayanihan," is patterned after the U.S. Counter-Insurgency Guide of 2009, which has been criticized for reportedly filing trumped up charges against activists.

The government has repeatedly denied the existence of any political prisoners in the Philippines.--Ucannews.com

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