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April 27, 2010
Media Release
References: Dr. Julie Caguiat, Spokesperson, 0909-1133038
Philip Paraan, Media Officer, 0919-4861580
To solve detention problem, group demands for the release of the 43
health
workers
The Philippine National Police thinks it can get off the hook and renege
on
its responsibility by citing different (and outrageous) reasons to block
the
transfer of the health workers in their custody.
Relatives of the 43 health workers arrested in Morong, Rizal today
condemned
the PNP’s latest move to take a hands-off on custodial issues by filing an
omnibus motion for reconsideration. “The Morong court should cite the PNP
Custodial Center for contempt this time,” Dr. Julie Caguiat of the FREE
THE
43 HEALTH WORKERS alliance said.
The group decried that it was very cunning and deceitful of the PNP to
blatantly defy the Morong RTC order before making any legal action to
counter
the decision. The omnibus motion of the PNP was only officially filed at
the
Morong RTC and was received by the Office of the Clerk of Court at around
8:20, April 26 (Monday), when the said court order was supposed to be
served
within 24 hours since it was issued last April 23.
Dr. Caguiat added that the relatives and supporters of the health workers
are
angered at the PNP and AFP’s malicious tactics. “We are even more angered
at
the government for tolerating this injustice by not ordering the PNP and
AFP
to follow court orders,” the doctor said.
At first, PNP officials refused custody of the 43 to Camp Crame citing
lack
of space for additional detainees especially since the Ampatuan-massacre
suspects are detained in their facility. But when the massacre suspects
were
transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, the PNP came up with
“unloading its detainees for eventual abolition [of the custodial
center]”.
“The PNP can come up with random reasons to prevent the Morong 43’s
transfer
to their custody. But as far as truth is concerned, they are merely trying
hard to evade responsibility,” Dr. Caguiat explained.
“The PNP and AFP’s finger-pointing is proof that their own monster is
chasing
them. That monster is eating the very same persons who concocted this
problem – Mrs. Arroyo and her high ranking PNP and AFP officials. The only
way to resolve the problem of which detention facility the 43 health
workers
should be placed in is to release them back to their families and the
communities that they serve,” Dr. Caguiat ended.##
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‘Unholy trinity’ to blame for ‘43’
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:21:00 03/23/2010
Filed Under: Government, Military, Human Rights, Justice & Rights, Crime
and Law and Justice
The Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Court of Appeals, and Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo compose an “unholy trinity” that makes sure that
Philippine democracy is trampled, civil liberties are bastardized and
basic human rights violated as a matter of course.
The 43 illegally detained health workers have to endure another round of
physical, emotional and psychological abuse, courtesy of the Court of
Appeals which junked their petition for a writ of habeas corpus. In
effect, the Court of Appeals justified all the atrocities committed by the
military against the 43.
Every minute in illegal detention is in itself torture, every moment a
physical and mental torment. The longer the 43 health workers are detained
in the military camp, the more they become vulnerable. Worst of all, this
Court of Appeals decision sends a chilling message: the military can go
ahead with its violation of the people’s civil and democratic rights.
Families of the detained health workers are afraid that the longer the 43
stay in detention, the more they will experience abuses and violations of
their rights. They have all the reasons to feel that way, as their rights
were brazenly violated as soon as they were arrested. Coming from several
families, some of them may have been living more comfortably than the
others or may have the chance to live a better life. Others may be so poor
like the ones they have committed themselves to serve. They may be missing
their parents and loved ones while they are serving in barangays where no
medical practitioners dare go.
They may have different backgrounds and levels of commitment, but they
have one thing in common: all of them were arrested at the time when they
were training to become better skilled health workers. The illegal arrest
suddenly distracted them from this noble intention and has utterly
deprived people, whom these health workers could have been serving now, of
badly needed health care.
How do we now define the injustice done to the 43 health workers and the
rest of the Filipino people? Just think of the AFP members who
blindfolded, detained and continuously tortured them. Think of this
decision of the Court of Appeals. Think of GMA whose power and despotic
rule allow human rights violations to go unpunished.
—NORMA P. DOLLAGA,
Kapatirang Simbahan
Para sa Bayan (Kasimbayan),
3/F NCCP, 879 Edsa, Quezon City
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Stills from a Kodao
Video on Hacienda Luisita |
Higit na
Mahal
ni Alexander Martin Remollino
Sa silid-kainan ng iyong isip,
kailanman ay hindi nila natikman ang ipaghain --
kailanman ay hindi.
Ni hindi nga nila nalasap doon ni minsan
ang alukin man lamang na kumain --
ni minsan ay hindi.
Ano kaya,
ano kaya kung sa isang biglang pihit ng pagkakataon
ay maglahong tulad nina Juan Feleo,
Manuel Merino at Jonas Burgos
silang lahat na humahawak ng araro't asarol?
Tiyak na magmamarkang parang kagat sa iyong isip --
sa iyong isip na kasinliit ng mumo --
ang katotohanang ang mga lipaking palad
na naghahatid ng pagkain sa iyong hapag
ay higit na mahal, higit na mahal
kaysa sa iyong mga pinggang
porselana.
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