Political prisoners kicked-off their SONA counterpoint activities yesterday at 12:00 noon through the simultaneous singing of “Bayan Ko” (My Country) in the various jails nationwide. As in previous activities conducted by political prisoners, other inmates joined to highlight the call to release all political prisoners and to improve jail conditions. Relatives and friends, and members of people’s organizations also held similar activities outside the jails.
Political prisoners kicked-off their SONA counterpoint activities yesterday at 12:00 noon through the simultaneous singing of “Bayan Ko” (My Country) in the various jails nationwide. As in previous activities conducted by political prisoners, other inmates joined to highlight the call to release all political prisoners and to improve jail conditions. Relatives and friends, and members of people’s organizations also held similar activities outside the jails.
Those who participated in the activity were political detainees in at least 12 detention facilities in the National Capital Region, in Eastern Visayas, Negros, Bohol, Caraga and Southern Mindanao regions. Aside from the political prisoners, more than 400 inmates took part in the activity, especially those from Caraga and Southern Mindanao. At the National Bilibid Prisons, the singing was accompanied by the pealing of church bells.
“We want to underscore the government’s continued denial of the existence of at least 537 political prisoners in the country. The BS Aquino confidently lies about them because the regime has criminalized and demonized the political prisoners by manufacturing criminal charges against them,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general. Most of the political prisoners are charged with non-bailable offense such as illegal possession of explosives by “planting” evidences during their arrest.
On July 27, in time with BS Aquino’s last SONA, the political prisoners will hold discussions with inmates to speak on the real state of the nation and how BS Aquino’s ‘tuwid na daan’ was never for the ordinary mamamayan but for the elite classes whom he serves.
Also, a portrait exhibit dubbed as Portrayal: Faces of Freedom, which features some of the political prisoners, will be held on July 24-25 at the Maximillian Gallery in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. About 50 artists gave life to the usually unknown political prisoners through their art works. The exhibit is open to the public. ###