Bayan Muna laments plight of political prisoners after 67-year-old detainee dies of cancer

Bayan Muna Representative Eufemia Cullamat on Tuesday accused the Duterte administration of turning a blind eye to the human rights of political prisoners, who are at risk of COVID-19 due to overcrowding in jails.

Cullamat said this during her privilege speech at the House of Representatives following the death of Antonio Molina, 67-year-old political prisoner who succumbed to stomach cancer on November 18, 2021.

According to Cullamat, Molina, a member of Katipunan ng Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan, along with six other peasant activists were arrested by the military and police in 2019 due to “trumped-up” cases of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Molina was then diagnosed with stage 4 cancer early this year while still being detained.

The Kaisahan ng mga Kamag-anak at Kaibigan ng mga Political Prisoners’ (Kapatid) filed a petition to release political prisoners especially seniors and those with underlying health conditions due to the threat of COVID-19.

Cullamat then lamented that the courts did not approve Kapatid’s petition.

“Ngunit nananatiling bulag at bingi ang administrasyong ito. Habang hindi pinapalaya ang mga bilanggong pulitikal, walang tigil ang pang-aatake, kahit ang compassionate release na dapat ginawa ng pamahalaan ay binalewala,” she told her fellow lawmakers.

[But the Duterte administration keeps turning a blind eye. It is not releasing the political prisoners, there is non-stop attack and even compassionate release was not given.]

Cullamat said it is unfair that poor political prisoners suffer in jail while those convicted are still running in the elections.

“Kung ang mga politikong nahahatulan ng pagkabilanggo ay nakakalabas at malayang nakakatakbo pa sa eleksyon, bakit ang mga mahihirap at inosenteng magsasaka ay basta-basta na lang kinukulong?” Cullamat said.

[If politicians who are convicted are released and can run for the elections, why are poor and innocent farmers being detained?]

“Hindi man lang pinapalaya para makapagpagamot ng maayos. Ilang ulit siyang pinagkaitan ng hustisya.  Kung tutuusin, ang kanser ng lipunan ang pumatay kay Tatay Antonio at sa daan-daan pang kagaya niya,” she added.

[They could not leave and get treated. They are facing injustice. In truth, it was the society who killed Tatay Antonio and hundreds of prisoners like him.]

Molina is the fourth political prisoner in Southern Tagalog who died during the Duterte regime, Cullamat said.

GMA News Online asked Malacañang for comment regarding Cullamat’s allegations but has yet to receive a response.

In total, Cullamat said there are 709 political prisoners including 59 seniors and 92 who are diagnosed with illness. -Consuelo Marquez/NB, GMA News

Bayan Muna laments plight of political prisoners after 67-year-old detainee dies of cancer
Source: Filipino Viral News PH