People’s orgs press for release of political prisoners via general amnesty

Members of peasant organizations, rights advocates and Church-based organizations today held a rally at Mendiola to call on the Duterte government to immediately release the 392 political prisoners through general amnesty. The rally came a day before the resumption of the 3rd round of formal talks between the GPH and NDFP.

Groups say it is a matter of justice as political prisoners are victims of trumped-up charges. It is also a government obligation to fulfill provisions of the GPH-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed in 1998.

Of the almost 400 political prisoners, 30 are elderly, 34 are women, and 122 are ailing according to Human Rights group Karapatan. (Divine C. Miranda)