|
RELEASE ALL WOMEN LORNA RIVERA BABA, 46, mother of two, churchworker of Philippine Independent Church, Northern Luzon. It has been more then a year since Lorna was abducted by the ISAFP in Pidigan, Abra and held incommunicado for five days. She is accused of being part of an alleged conspiracy behind the killing of CPLA leader Conrado Balweg. VIRGINIA TUMAMPO, farmer from So. Cantuwagan, Bgy. Tabgas, Albuera, Leyte. She is charged with "qualified theft" (of coconuts) by their landlord Primitiva Verano. She is now detained in Albuera Municipal Jail, Leyte. IRENE PLAGTIOSA, 22, a worker (packer) of Trio N Rattan Furniture
Company in Bgy. Lawaan, Talisay City, Cebu; single parent to a 3-year
old child. Irene was falsely accused of being one of the NPA members
involved in the death of military informer Edward Jimenez. MA. NESCHIL T. NAVARRO, 15 AILYN T. NAVARRO, 16 LAMBERTO NUBLA, 17 On October 14, 2000, they had spent the night at the house of a relative, Erineo Nasayao, since there was no longer a ride home after visiting the Grotto of Lourdes in Camalig, Albay. Early the following morning, elements of the 501st IBPA raided Nasayao's house and arrested the three minors and accused them as NPA members. EMMA RAET, 19, resident of Tanagan, San Andres, Romblon. Emma was arrested during a military operation on September 18, 1999. She had a miscarriage while in detention. Her release remains uncertain due to slow court proceedings. SET FREE ALL WOMEN AND MINORS POLITICALLY DETAINED! LUMALINDA DAAN * LIZA CABADONGA LOZADA * GLORIA PABILLON *ANNIE STA. ANA * BELMAR JAMIL * ORESTES AMPIT * AND OTHERS
PROFILE |
AN
APPEAL
FOR
FREEDOM
AND FOR PEACE
Dear friends,
Greetings of peace and justice!
We in Gabriela are in full support of the peace effort being undertaken by both the government panel and revolutionary groups such as the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
However, as we look forward to the formal resumption of the peace talks, we would like to express our concern for one very crucial aspect of the peace talks and that is, the release of political prisoners, most particularly women and minors. Consequently, we would like to raise several issues regarding government's response to the clamor for peace based on justice.
We have been disheartened to discover that only very few were included in the list for immediate release. At present, we have documented a significant number of women political prisoners.
One of those disregarded for immediate release is churchworker Lorna Baba in Abra. She has been continuously detained and accused of the murder of CPLA leader Conrado Balweg despite the claim of Cordillera NPAs of being the ones responsible for Balweg's death. Right after her arrest in front of the Independent Church Parish, she was detained incommunicado by the ISAFP for three months.
We are also upset over government's failure to immediately release those political prisoners who are minors. We have so far documented six children detained in the different parts of the country. Some are mixed with common adult criminals and the girls like the Navarro sisters (Aileen, 15 and Neshril, 16) in Bicol are being harassed by the other common criminals.
We, in Gabriela, firmly believe that the government can only show its sincerity in giving peace a chance by primarily releasing the political prisoners, especially the women political prisoners.
Thus, we appeal to you to be one with us again in this cause. Please send letters to:
 |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
|
Secretary Hernani Perez |
|
Secretary Dinky Soliman Department of Social Welfare and Development Batasan Pambansa, Quezon City |
|
Chairperson Aurora Recina |
|
Secretary Angelo Reyes Department of National Defense Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City |
|
Hon. Silvestre Bello |
Let us keep the fire of People Power 2 constantly burning and keep alive the flames of vigilance till we have the full glory of peace and justice.
Mabuhay tayo!
Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB
Chairperson
Liza Largoza Maza
Secretary General
 PREVIOUS |
 NEXT |
