The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) has called on “all peace-loving Filipinos to sympathize with the ongoing hunger strike of political prisoners and their families.”
In a statement, the KMP challenged the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) to “walk the talk on its commitment to release political prisoners.”
“Don’t anymore make promises you can’t keep. Bring political prisoners home to their families this Christmas. They have languished in jails for many years and served unjust sentences on crimes they did not commit. An amnesty order for all political prisoners is necessary to give reprieve and social justice for their prolonged unjust detention and conviction. Justice delayed is justice denied for the 400 political prisoners,” said Joseph Canlas, chairperson of KMP.
KMP noted that “hunger strike is the highest form of political exercise of political detainees to assert their collective demand for freedom.”
“We challenge the Duterte government to realize its commitment to free more than 150 political prisoners,” said Canlas as he welcomed the news of presidential pardon to four peasant political prisoners Martin Villanueva, Bonifacio Suyon, Dindo Absalon and Rico Bodina.
He stressed that “the first order of business is for them to get out of jail in the soonest possible time. As long as they still behind bars, they are not free.”
“Political prisoners are not criminals. They were imprisoned because of their political beliefs and actions related to their quest for social justice. Many of them are farmers who have defended their right to the land they till,” Canlas said.
KMP said it is “particularly campaigning for the release of all peasant political prisoners, number to more than 300, including Dario Tomada and Oscar Belleza who are detained at the Manila City Jail after they were falsely implicated in the Hilongos, Leyte mass grave case.”
Tomada, 56, is a former leader of peasant group SAGUPA- Sinirangan Bisayas. He was arrested on July 22, 2010 in Binan, Laguna. Belleza, 59, was the former vice chairperson of KMP-Leyte. He was arrested on November 26, 2008 in Olongapo City. He suffered a stroke while in detention and underwent brain surgery. He is now paralyzed and in poor health condition.
Female political prisoner Beatriz Gabuay, 56, is still detained at the Samar Provincial Jail since her arrest on September 23, 2008. Felicidad Caparal, a staff of Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, was arrested on January 27, 2009 in Bobon, Northern Samar. She has since not seen her three children.
Other peasant leaders and farmers who are still in detention include Alex Arias, chairperson of KMP-affi liate PUMALAG; Jojo Doroja, Lito Matricio, Albert Custodio, Orlando Duruin, Mendio Bisiotan, Marlon Bagaray, Linor Danao, Francisco Esponilla, Romar Busania, Fidel Lusica, Michael Gatchialian, Eric Seballo, Jerry Banao, Gregorio Lusica, Solomon Curitao, Jexson Cullamat, Antonio Ocba, Armando Toreta, Jupiter Pacquiao, Estiqueo Bulat-ag, Pedro Lumantas, Alberto Pancho and many others.
