The Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) takes exception to Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go’s appeal at the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs’ hearing last week to go easy on Rodrigo Duterte on account of his age and health condition.
“Eleven political prisoners died in prison under the Duterte regime, most of them elderly and suffering from life-threatening conditions,” said SELDA spokesperson Bonifacio Ilagan. “None of them received proper and adequate medical care, and their health deteriorated under harsh prison conditions.”
“One of them, Antonio Molina, was refused humanitarian release by the courts even if he was suffering from terminal cancer,” added Ilagan. “He died on November 18, 2021, a day after being brought to hospital.”
“Another ailing political prisoner, 75-year old Jesus Alegre, who had been imprisoned for 16 years on trumped-up murder charges, died on June 13, 2021, hours after being brought to hospital. He was suffering from hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and ischemic heart disease,” said Ilagan.
“Take note that these political prisoners were only brought to the hospital when they were already on the brink of death,” stressed Ilagan. “In contrast, Duterte was brought to the ICC prison’s hospital wing when he first arrived at The Hague, is under a doctor’s supervision 24/7 and lives in relative comfort at the Scheveningen Prison, which complies with international standards of detention.”
“Duterte, who is charged with crimes against humanity, is being treated far more humanely than the ailing and elderly political prisoners who did not deserve to spend a minute behind bars but died in detention with inadequate medical care,” fumed Ilagan. “Senator Go does not know what he is talking about, and should shut up.”