As the group hails the release of Cuban 5, SELDA also called on Pope Francis to intercede for the release of youth political prisoners Guiller Martin Cadano and Gerald Salonga and all political prisoners.
As the group hails the release of Cuban 5, SELDA also called on Pope Francis to intercede for the release of youth political prisoners Guiller Martin Cadano and Gerald Salonga and all political prisoners.
"We have joined the campaign for the release of the Cuban 5 for many years. Learning that Pope Francis interceded for their release gave us hope that he will listen to our pleas," Jigs Clamor, SELDA national coordinator said.
Cadano and Salonga, both 23 years old, are graduates of the University of the Philippines. Both are organizers of Kabataan Partylist assigned in Central Luzon to study the extent of displacement of farmers because of government project in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija. They were arrested on August 9 by elements of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in Brgy. TL Padilla, Carranglan at the house of their host family. They now face charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Cadano and Salonga are two of the 491 political prisoners in the Philippines.
In his statement, Cadano said, "Thank God I survived this evil reflection of BS Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan, even though I was on the verge of death. Even if death was upon us, I have managed to think positively that this worst fate on the hands of Armed Forces of the Philippines brings a testimony, a testimony of true evil society we have nowadays. Martial rule was gone, but still the country has been tearing recklessly apart by bad elites and authorities."
"Cadano and Salonga are examples of ‘young people’ becoming ‘radical force for good.’ Cadano and Salonga, instead of pursuing individual careers in their own fields after graduation, chose to serve their country and become part of the ‘radical force’ for genuine change," Clamor said. "The BS Aquino government, instead of supporting the youth, imprisoned them with trumped up criminal charges," he added.
"Even inside jail, Cadano and Salango pursue to criticize the kind of system our society has. They are what we need in this country. We hope Pope Francis can join us in the call to free Cadano and Salonga and all political prisoners during his visit here in our country," Clamor ended. ###