News Release
25 June 2014
Reference: Roneo Clamor, SELDA
national coordinator, +63917-5965859
Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa
Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) called on lawmakers to investigate the inhuman
prison conditions which most inmates, political prisoners and common criminals
alike, are subjected to.
Amidst the VIP treatment of detained senators
Revilla and Estrada who face plunder charges, SELDA challenged the BS Aquino
government to comply with the Minimum Standards of Treatment of
Prisoners. SELDA is outraged with the double standard the BS Aquino
government giving to plunderers while common criminals and political prisoners
are suffering from inhuman conditions.
“We hear Sen. Revilla complaining
about his hot detention cell, with rats and cockroaches. But actually, regular
detention cells are far worse than his,” Roneo Clamor, SELDA national
coordinator said. “A 3x5-meter cell meant for two inmates is cramped with six
to 10 detainees in regular jails. Even the lavatories are used as sleeping
quarters,” Clamor described. “Prisoners usually have limited supply of water,
suffer from poor ventilation, and receive no proper medical attention,” Clamor
continued.
Clamor cited the condition of Benny
Barid, a political prisoner who has been in and out of the New Bilibid Prisons
hospital because of his illnesses. “He is all skinny, as in buto’t
balat (skin and bones), because of his chronic asthma. His
skin is full of allergies. Instead of releasing him on humanitarian grounds, he
remains in the NBP hospital without proper medical attention. He becomes
susceptible to more infectious diseases inside the hospital and in their
cramped cells,” said Clamor.
“Despite the many exposé and
complaints on the conditions of jails in the country the BS Aquino government
has not done anything to improve the situation. But it has ensured the comfort
of plunderers like Janet Lim-Napoles and senators Revilla and Estrada in their
own rooms while supposedly in prison,” Clamor said.
In a message dated June 8, Eduardo
Sarmiento, detained peace consultant for the National Democratic Front of the
Philippines (NDFP), shared the plight of the 489 political prisoners detained
in different detention centers in the country. “Political prisoners, like
common criminals, suffer arbitrary and discriminatory regulations such as
curtailment of visiting rights… harassed by corrupt prison guards, who punish
them and put them in isolation for no reason,” said Sarmiento.
“Worst, the political prisoners are
made to face several trumped up criminal charges for practicing their political
beliefs which is a right of every person,” Clamor added.
Lastly, SELDA called to release
all political prisoners especially those who are ailing and elderly based on
humanitarian grounds. “The plunderers should take their place in jail.” ###
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The
Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) is an organization
of former political prisoners in the Philippines. Founded on December 4, 1984,
SELDA was initiated by newly-released political prisoners of the martial law
period. SELDA’s primary task is to work for the release of all political
prisoners and to see to it that humane treatment of those who are still in
detention are complied with by the Philippine authorities. SELDA
advocates justice for current and former political prisoners. It calls
for the mobilisation of resources in support of political prisoners, former
detainees and their families. It carries out legislative advocacy for the
indemnification and rehabilitation of political prisoners. SELDA goes into partnership
and builds solidarity with concerned individuals and groups for the freedom and
welfare of political prisoners and all victims of tyranny.
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