Eight political prisoners released
Thursday, 08 July 2010 07:06 PM by Merck Maguddayao
http://www.thepoc.net/breaking-news/breaking-stories/8505-eight-political-prisoners-released.html
The eight political prisoners who were supposed to be released last month are free men today, the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) reported.
The so-called “Freedom 8,” whose release orders were signed by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last June 25, are Orlando Bundalian Jr., Rogelio Galero, Rupert Lopez, Pedro Madera, Anacleto Mercader, Pedro Pascual, Mariano Reyes, and Rodolfo Tubera.
According to the TFDP, the eight are former activists in the early 1990s who were convicted of various criminal charges in connection with their alleged participation with various underground revolutionary groups and were detained for at least 15 years. Bundalian, one of the “Freedom 8,” was initially sentenced with the death penalty but was not executed due to the scrapping of the death penalty law in 2006.
According to Bundalian, who spoke for the "Freedom 8", their release was "conditional" and that they are required to report to the Bureau of Pardons and Parole every month as a condition for their release.
"Now that we are free, we will campaign for the release of other political prisoners. We urge the present administration of President Noynoy [Aquino] to release all political prisoners unconditionally," Bundalian said in a press conference held at the TFDP office.
Bundalian added that they are happy for their release but they are also sad at the same time because other political prisoners are still in jail.
The “Freedom 8” are the first batch of political prisoners to be released within the term of President Benigno Aquino III. According to TFDP, there are still 263 political prisoners detained in the Philippines.
Aquino's mother former President Corazon Aquino ordered the release of all political prisoners during her administration, which came after Martial Law. The younger Aquino, however, has not ordered the release of current political prisoners.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said that she will “review” the case of 43 health workers who were detained by the military last March in Morong, Rizal. The 43 are accused of being members of the New People's Army.
Thursday, 08 July 2010 07:06 PM by Merck Maguddayao
http://www.thepoc.net/breaking-news/breaking-stories/8505-eight-political-prisoners-released.html
The eight political prisoners who were supposed to be released last month are free men today, the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) reported.
The so-called “Freedom 8,” whose release orders were signed by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last June 25, are Orlando Bundalian Jr., Rogelio Galero, Rupert Lopez, Pedro Madera, Anacleto Mercader, Pedro Pascual, Mariano Reyes, and Rodolfo Tubera.
According to the TFDP, the eight are former activists in the early 1990s who were convicted of various criminal charges in connection with their alleged participation with various underground revolutionary groups and were detained for at least 15 years. Bundalian, one of the “Freedom 8,” was initially sentenced with the death penalty but was not executed due to the scrapping of the death penalty law in 2006.
According to Bundalian, who spoke for the "Freedom 8", their release was "conditional" and that they are required to report to the Bureau of Pardons and Parole every month as a condition for their release.
"Now that we are free, we will campaign for the release of other political prisoners. We urge the present administration of President Noynoy [Aquino] to release all political prisoners unconditionally," Bundalian said in a press conference held at the TFDP office.
Bundalian added that they are happy for their release but they are also sad at the same time because other political prisoners are still in jail.
The “Freedom 8” are the first batch of political prisoners to be released within the term of President Benigno Aquino III. According to TFDP, there are still 263 political prisoners detained in the Philippines.
Aquino's mother former President Corazon Aquino ordered the release of all political prisoners during her administration, which came after Martial Law. The younger Aquino, however, has not ordered the release of current political prisoners.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said that she will “review” the case of 43 health workers who were detained by the military last March in Morong, Rizal. The 43 are accused of being members of the New People's Army.
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