Former political prisoners decry torture, demand release of all political prisoners

Today, June 26, 2025, as the world observes the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Samahan ng Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), an organization of former political prisoners, stands in solidarity with all survivors of torture and their families and reiterate our demand for truth, justice and accountability for the violations they have suffered.

In the Philippines, despite the enactment of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 and the country’s formal commitment to the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT), this despicable crime continues to be systematically used—especially against political prisoners, activists and the marginalized and powerless.

Prudencio Calubid Jr., an 85-year old retired technician who was arrested by the police for no reason other than being the namesake of a consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines with a PhP7.8-million bounty on his head, was mercilessly tortured by his captors to force him to admit to being someone he is not. This, despite his innocence, advanced age and the serious ailments he suffers from.

Ali Macalintal, a transwoman and former human rights defender of KARAPATAN who was killed by suspected State forces just a few days ago, had been arrested, tortured and detained on false charges of bombing a mall in 2002 after arresting officers planted explosives at her house. Despite being vindicated through the dismissal of the trumped-up charges against her, she suffered mental anguish and genuinely feared for her life after being continuously red-tagged, harassed and placed under surveillance, until these incidents apparently culminated in her extrajudicial killing.

John Griefen Arlegui and Reynaldo Viernes, youth activists who were arrested in April 2019 merely for putting up campaign posters for Bayan Muna and then senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares, were held incommunicado and severely tortured before being surfaced. In detention, they continued to be subjected to mental torture, including being pressured to surrender as armed rebels and threatened that their families would be killed if they refused.

Subjecting elderly and ailing political prisoners to the gruesome and degrading conditions of life in jails and prisons is, by itself, a cruel form of physical and mental torture that not only violates their rights but strips them of their dignity. In the interest of justice, ailing and elderly political prisoners who have suffered through their torturous incarceration must be immediately released.

SELDA has seen how state forces have weaponized torture as a means to extract forced confessions, silence dissent and perpetuate fear. This persistent pattern of human rights violations underscores the fact that laws alone have never been sufficient and effective guarantees against torture and other rights violations, and reflects the State’s hypocrisy in claiming to protect human rights and holding perpetrators accountable.

SELDA demands the full and urgent implementation of anti-torture laws, the investigation and prosecution of all torture cases, and the dismantling of the culture of impunity that has allowed these violations to continue. Instead of subjecting victims to continued persecution, intimidation, denial, or delay, survivors must be supported with access to justice, medical and psychosocial care and reparations.

We call for the release of all political prisoners, who have been subjected to physical and psychological torture, and cruel and inhumane treatment while in the custody of their captors and in prison.

SELDA reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting torture victims and survivors in their struggle for justice and accountability. We call on the international community, human rights defenders and the Filipino people to continue speaking out and standing up against torture in all its forms.