Karapatan slammed anew the BS Aquino government for the preferential treatment it accords the jailed pork barrel plunderers, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada and Janet Napoles. “It seems they are having a staycation in jail. The plunderers continue to enjoy their heyday in jail, squeezing more of the country’s resources for their security and comfort," said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay.
Karapatan slammed anew the BS Aquino government for the preferential treatment it accords the jailed pork barrel plunderers, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada and Janet Napoles. “It seems they are having a staycation in jail. The plunderers continue to enjoy their heyday in jail, squeezing more of the country’s resources for their security and comfort," said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay.
Palabay said the cost of the special treatment accorded these plunderers is charged to the nation’s coffers, depriving further the people of the services due them. “Ninakawan na nga ang mamamayan, tayo pa rin ang sagot sa mga gastusin para pagbigyan ang mga kapritso ng mga mandarambong.”
She cited the P120,000 cost of each of Napoles’ out of detention activity, like court hearings or transfers, aside from their monthly spending of P150,000 for her detention. "If the government can spend this much for one prisoner on a single day, they must have the resources to improve the condition of common prisoners, political prisoners included, in different jails," Palabay added.
"The difference in the treatment is so glaring, we can’t help but compare this with the situation of petty criminals who are poor and are powerless, including the political prisoners. They could not even attend court hearings because jail authorities would often say there are not enough guards to accompany them, or there are no available vehicles to bring them to court hearings," Palabay said.
In May, political prisoner Andrea Rosal had to go through a gruelling process, in court and before jail authorities, for her to be brought to the hospital to give birth.
Palabay also mentioned the series of postponement of court hearings of the military accused in the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case of missing UP students Sherlyn Cadapan-Karen Empeño. Since September 2013, the military has failed to present its witnesses citing lack of funds for transportation fare of their witnesses.
Meanwhile, according to Palabay, political prisoners, who are charged of trumped-up criminal offenses, are also suffering from ill treatment of BS Aquino’s double standard of treatment of prisoners. "Since day one of their detention, they already suffered ill treatment such as torture, inhuman prison conditions and the so-slow court proceedings," Palabay said.
Karapatan documented 40 elderly political prisoners, 50 ailing who should be immediately released on humanitarian grounds, if not better jail condition and/or immediate medical attention.
"Since BS Aquino now faces the possibility of impeachment or ouster because of the pork barrel scam, particularly that of the Disbursement Allocation Program (DAP), he might as well improve the prison conditions now so he will have a decent detention cell when his time comes. Surely, no Filipino will buy his alibi for a house or hospital arrest," Palabay ended wryly.