A day after Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his grandstanding State of the Nation Address, another political prisoner, Ernesto Jude Rimando, died in custody.
“We at the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) are angered by the deafening silence of Malacañang and the Department of Justice to our call for the immediate release of Rimando on humanitarian grounds,” said SELDA spokesperson Bonifacio Ilagan.
“Rimando was already very sick at the time of his illegal arrest, and his condition only worsened behind bars. His medical treatment was halted, and health and medical assistance inside prison was absent. The government failed to give him and other ailing detainees proper medical care,” said Ilagan. “We can only blame the government for his death.”
Rimando is already the fourth political prisoner to die in custody this year alone. The three others are Roy dela Cruz (January 27, 2024), Generoso Granado Jr. (March 7, 2024), and Antonio Legaspi (April 19, 2024).
“The conditions in our jails and prisons are horrible,” added Ilagan. “Everyone is left to his or her own devices, and survival of the fittest is the key to ‘living’. Where is the humanity and dignity in that?” asked Ilagan.
In his latest SONA, Marcos Jr. evaded the issue of political prisoners and human rights in the country; the continued filing of fabricated charges of common crimes, such as murder and arson, including child abuse against political activists and other dissenters; and the full-swing implementation of the Anti-Terror Act and Terrorist Financing Act against activists, progressive lawmakers, human rights defenders, and political critics and other dissidents.
Ernesto Jude Rimando was facing nine trumped-up charges in different courts across the country – in Quezon City; Pasay City,; San Mateo, Rizal; Bohol; Capiz; Negros Oriental and Occidental; Iloilo; and Danao City. The majority of these charges consisted of common crimes of murder and illegal possession of firearms and explosives punishable by reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years in prison.
Most, if not all, of the 754 political prisoners currently rotting in prison also face the same fabricated criminal charges, while 32 are now charged with violating the ATA and Financing Terrorism Act, also punishable by a life sentence.
“The filing of fabricated charges against ordinary peasants, workers, and unionists, as well as activists, progressive lawmakers, human rights defenders, and political critics and dissidents is cruel, immoral, and truly unjust. And letting them rot and die in prison is inhumane,” he added.
“As we honor political prisoner Ernesto Jude Rimando, we reiterate our call for the immediate release of all ailing and elderly prisoners. In the interest of justice, human rights and dignity, we call for the dropping of all charges against political prisoners and their immediate release,” ended Ilagan.