"We are calling on the Duterte government to immediately release Renato Baleros Sr. on just and humanitarian grounds. We fear that bringing him back to prison will eventually cost his life,” Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general said referring to political prisoner Baleros Sr. as an individual protected by JASIG (Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees). Baleros arrived today in Manila from Tacloban City, with two armed personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Baleros’s son Ramel and a Karapatan Eastern Visayas staff to seek medical attention.
Baleros was rushed to the hospital night of July 2. Doctors diagnosed Baleros of having acute renal failure, severe sepsis and acute inflammation of kidney tissues, calysys and renal pelvis and community acquired pneumonia which he got from Samar Provincial Jail. He needs to undergo further medical investigation, facilities for such are only accessible in Manila and Cebu.
Baleros is detained for trumped up charges of murder and frustrated murder, robbery in band and multiple homicide, and arson filed against him. Almost all of his cases have already been dismissed, except for one murder charge.
Baleros and his wife Lonie Colinaio-Baleros were heading the New People’s Army’s relief operations in Western Samar during the devastation of the typhoon Yolanda when they were arrested on December 2013.
"We are calling on the Duterte government to immediately release Renato Baleros Sr. on just and humanitarian grounds. We fear that bringing him back to prison will eventually cost his life,” Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general said referring to political prisoner Baleros Sr. as an individual protected by JASIG (Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees). Baleros arrived today in Manila from Tacloban City, with two armed personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Baleros’s son Ramel and a Karapatan Eastern Visayas staff to seek medical attention.
Baleros was rushed to the hospital night of July 2. Doctors diagnosed Baleros of having acute renal failure, severe sepsis and acute inflammation of kidney tissues, calysys and renal pelvis and community acquired pneumonia which he got from Samar Provincial Jail. He needs to undergo further medical investigation, facilities for such are only accessible in Manila and Cebu.
Baleros is detained for trumped up charges of murder and frustrated murder, robbery in band and multiple homicide, and arson filed against him. Almost all of his cases have already been dismissed, except for one murder charge.
Baleros and his wife Lonie Colinaio-Baleros were heading the New People’s Army’s relief operations in Western Samar during the devastation of the typhoon Yolanda when they were arrested on December 2013.
"In the first place, Baleros should not have been arrested. His detention not only prevented him from doing the functions of a JASIG protected person in pursuance of his role in the peace process, but also caused the deterioration of his health,” Palabay said.
According to Baleros, Renato Abadiano, a fellow political prisoner in Western Samar recently died in prison.Baleros will be taken to National Kidney and Transplant Institute upon arrival to Manila.