As the visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines nears, political prisoners gear up to be heard. Many political prisoners wrote letters addressed to the Pope to call for support for their freedom.
As the visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines nears, political prisoners gear up to be heard. Many political prisoners wrote letters addressed to the Pope to call for support for their freedom.
Maria Miradel Torres, a female political detainee at the Taguig City Jail wrote Pope Francis, "…Umaasam po akong makalaya… Hinahangad ko po ito sa kagalingan ng aking sanggol, kinakailangan ko pong magkasama kami at maalagaan siya matapos ko siyang isilang…Sana po ay matulungan ninyo ako," (I long for freedom for the sake of my baby who needs to be with me so I can take care of him after his birth. I hope you can help me.)
She was three months pregnant and was on bed rest due to threatened abortion when Torres was arrested on June 20, 2014. Joint forces of Armed Forces of the Philippines-South Luzon Command and Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested her for charges of murder and frustrated murder. "Hindi ko po lubos maisip ang mga ibinibintang at gawa-gawang mga kaso laban sa akin," (I could not think doing the things they have charged against me) Torres wrote.
"Ako po ay isang ordinaryong mamamayan at inang mag-isang itinataguyod ang aking anak" (I am just an ordinary citizen and a single mother who will provide for my child),” Torres said.
Torres wrote this letter a few weeks before she gave birth to a 2.8 kg. baby boy on November 19 at the Philippine General Hospital. The Infanta Regional Trial Court Branch 55 gave her two months to stay at the PGH so she can breastfeed her baby. "But after two months, Torres is bound to go back in her detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City Jail—a place most unfit for a nursing mother and a newborn," Jigs Clamor, national coordinator of Selda, (Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon) said.
"Torres and other political prisoners seek the help of Pope Francis to echo their call for freedom against unjust and unwarranted detention. Afterall the Pope is known for his progressive views and bias for the poor and the oppressed," Clamor said.
At sundown of December 10, International Human Rights Day, the political prisoners ended their seven-day fas. "The political prisoners all over the country joined the rest of the fighting Filipinos on the struggle against human rights violations. They specifically called for their immediate release," Clamor said.
A week before the Pope’s arrival, the political prisoners will again fast to highlight the call to release all political prisoners. As of November 30, there are 491 political prisoners all over the country. ###