A statement released by female political prisoners at the Taguig City Jail (TCJ) called on BS Aquino to free the mother and child, as an early Christmas present. "Sa kaso ni Maria Miradel Torres at ng kanyang sanggol na naging bilanggong politikal na din mula pa sa sinapupunan hanggang nitong unang mga araw niya sa mundo; mahigpit naming hinihiling sa Pangulong Aquino na ibigay na sana niya sa mag-ina, bilang maagang pamasko ang agad nilang paglaya."
A statement released by female political prisoners at the Taguig City Jail (TCJ) called on BS Aquino to free the mother and child, as an early Christmas present. "Sa kaso ni Maria Miradel Torres at ng kanyang sanggol na naging bilanggong politikal na din mula pa sa sinapupunan hanggang nitong unang mga araw niya sa mundo; mahigpit naming hinihiling sa Pangulong Aquino na ibigay na sana niya sa mag-ina, bilang maagang pamasko ang agad nilang paglaya."
Torres, a political prisoner at the TCJ, gave birth on November 29 to a baby boy at the Philippine General Hospital. She was on doctor’s order for total bed rest due to her delicate pregnancy when arrested last June 20, 2014 in Lucena, Quezon province for murder.
The statement was signed by peace consultant for the National Democratic Front of the Philippine Ma. Loida Magpatoc and co-signed by Rhea Pareja, Marissa Espedido, Pastora Latagan, Miguela Peniero, Evelyn Legaspi, Gemma Carag and Andrea Rosal. Rosal gave birth last May, 2014 to a baby girl who died two days after.
"Ang karapatan ni Maria Miradel Torres bilang isang ina at sa kanyang bagong silang na sanggol ay magkaugnay at di mahihiwalay na usapin. Karapatan at tungkulin ng isang ina na makasama, mahalin at pangalagaan ang kanyang anak, habang karapatan din ng anak ang manatili sa piling ng kanyang ina at nang mabigyan siya ng nararapat na kalinga at pagmamahal nito (The right of Maria Miradel Torres as a mother and her newborn’s right are interrelated and cannot be considered separate issues. It is her right and obligation as a mother to be with her child, while her child has the right to stay with her mother and be given proper care and love),” the statement said
The female political prisoners scored anew the special treatment accorded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to Janet Lim Napoles and Atty. Gigi Reyes who have their own rooms at the ground floor of the TCJ. Their rooms are adjacent to that of the warden’s office.
"…Habang nagtitiis si Miradel kasama ang mga female inmates, kabaliktaran naman ang sitwasyon nina Janet Lim Napoles at Atty. Gigi Reyes na parehong may kasong pagnanakaw sa kabang yaman ng bayan. Binibigay ng DILG at BJMP sa kanilaang espesyal na pangangalaga, komportable at maalwan na sitwasyon sa kanilang sariling mga kwarto na nasa ground floor lamang ng gusaling Taguig City Jail."
"Ang buong Female Dormitory ng Taguig City Jail ay saksi ng mga paghihirap ni Miradel. Kalunos- lunos sa sitwasyong hindi nararapat maranasan ng isang nagdadalang tao lalo pa’t lubhang maselan ang kanyang pagbubuntis. Nagtitiis s’ya sa sobrang masikip, maingay at mainit na selda dito sa 4th floor ng Taguig City Jail na siyang ginawang Female Dormitory," (The prisoners at the Female Dormitory of Taguig City Jail witnessed the hardships of Miradel. The rotten jail situation is not fit for a pregnant mother, especially because she had a delicate pregnancy. She was in a congested, noisy, and hot dorm at the 4th floor of the TCJ).
The female political prisoners of the TCJ called on to the BS Aquino to release all political prisoners in the country especially the women, the elderly and the sick. They also called on the public to uphold peace based on social justice and support the call for the resumption of the peace talks between the BS Aquino government and the NDFP. ###