Karapatan Negros and other civil society groups held a silent protest beside the Hall of Justice on the morning of December 3 to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity for Political Prisoners.
The groups called for the immediate release of political prisoners all over the country, especially in Negros where there are currently 94 activists wrongfully jailed due to trumped-up charges.
Karapat Negros Secretary General Clarizza Singson also condemns the Duterte administration’s implementation of Memo 32 and the formation of the NTF-ELCAC through EO 70, which worsened the human rights situation in Negros Island.
“All these executive orders, accompanied by the ploy of red-tagging or maliciously linking activists to proscribed organizations like the CPP and NPA, have triggered mass arrests and worsening rights violations, including outright extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of human rights activists,” said Singson.
According to Singson, the prisoners suffer even more amid the COVID-19 pandemic since the successive lockdowns have suspended their visitation rights.
Furthermore, she decries the situation of the eldery, sick and pregnant/nursing women prisoners as they are most vulnerable during this pandemic.
She cites Nona Espinosa who was arrested whilst she was pregnant. She calls this administration for Espinosa, and others like her, to be given the necessary and adequate medical care as well as her right to breastfeed her baby as soon as she gives birth.
“These legal persecutions continue to remind us that state forces remain the number one human rights violator in the country. We enjoin everyone to vehemently oppose and resist the brutal, militarist and anti-people policies from which these atrocities are fueled. We call on the Duterte regime to drop all trumped-up charges as well as to grant omnibus amnesty to all political prisoners. We reiterate our call on the immediate release of political prisoners and likewise join the call for justice and accountability,” Singson said.
Political Prisoners Detained in Negros Island
In Negros Island, there are 99 political prisoners currently behind bars, most of which are under trumped up charges or through mass arrest operations carried about by the PNP-AFP. Among them are the following prominent individuals and community leaders along with their respective advocacies.
Karina Dela Cerna
Peasant advocate Karina de la Cerna is currently the youngest political prisoner in the country. Along with 57 other activists, Karina was illegally detained for trumped up charges during the October 31 crackdown of various offices in Negros. She served as the National Deputy Secretary General of National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates (NNARA-Youth) and Cultural Officer of NNARA Youth Negros.
At a very young age, Karina stated she witnessed the exploitation inflicted upon the peasantry by ruling elites, especially in Negros, a predominantly fedual and agricultural province. Through immersions, cultural performances, and school forums, Karina was active in raising awareness about the plight of our farmers. She advocated alongside the peasant sector toward lasting justice and genuine agrarian reform. Aside from being a student, she sought time to organize the youth to be one with the peasants’ struggle. Karina aspired to be a people’s lawyer after she graduates college.
Noli Rosales
“NPA kuno ang nagahimakas nga mga obrero para makatukod sg unyon siling sg militar. Paglapas ina sa kinamatarung nga mag unyon,” (According to the military, workers who resist and form a union are members of the NPA. That it is a clear breach of our right to unionize)
Noli Rosales, former Spokesperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno – Negros (KMU) a few years before he was arrested during the October 31 raids in Negros.
Noli Rosales worked as a mason at Camella Homes and there he realized the exploitative conditions he and his coworkers were being subjected to in their workplace. This realization brought them to file a labor case and soon linked up with an organizer from National Federation of Labor Unions – Kilusang Mayong Uno (NAFLU-KMU), who guided them through the case until they won. Afterwards, Noli found himself deeply into organizing and uniting more workers to resist assert their rights for favorable working conditions.
He is described by those who know him as a loving father of two, and a selfless organizer of fellow workers. His colleagues note of his jolly disposition, and yet can be very serious when it comes to work.
Wilmar Pongasi
Verdy is an LGBTQ+ youth human rights defender in Dumaguete City. They graduated with a degree in social science from Negros Oriental State University. Colleagues state their heart is with helping the masses of Negros, particularly farmers which is why they worked with Farmers Development Center, an NGO that assists farmers.
Driven by the urge to help document human rights violations in Negros, they were arrested while gathering data from the communities where human rights abuses by state forces are increasing. They still writes poetry while detained in Moises Padilla
Myles Albasin
Myles Albasin graduated in the University of the Philippines Cebu (Batch 2017) with a degree in BA Mass Communication.
Seeing her potential as a student leader, she took on the challenge to run as one of the representative in the Student Council. Though she did not win a seat, friends state this did not dampen her spirit to serve. Seeing the need for a comprehensive youth organization in UP Cebu, she spearheaded the reestablishment of the local chapter of Anakbayan and served as the chairperson of Anakbayan UP Cebu for two years until she graduated.
She initially planned to proceed to study Law after graduation, but compatriots state she chose to reach out to marginalized sectors. Together with other youth and student leaders, colleagues remarked that she regularly integrated herself with the masses – farmers, fisherfolks, workers, urban poor, jeepney drivers, Lumads of Mindanao, and other exploited and oppressed sectors of society.
Nona Espinosa
Nona Espinosa was one out of seven arrested in Guihulngnan last September 20, 2020. Philippine Army allege that she and the seven others are high ranking officials of the New People’s Army, with the 62nd Infantry Battalion alleging that they had multiple arms, grenades, medical instruments, and pistols at the time of their arrest. Similar to the plight suffered by community leader Reina Mae Nassino, she was expected to give birth at the time of her arrest.
Karapatan Negros Island stated that regardless of Nona’s political beliefs despite being detainee, it is her right under the constitution to access due medical services. The human rights organization stated that inadequate pre-natal care and deprivation of a mother’s milk and care may result to Espinosa’s baby meeting the same fate of Baby River.
Proceso Quiatchon
Proceso is a member of Karaptan Negros Island who helps in Paralegal cases especially human rights victims, and was among the 57 arrested in Bacolod last October 30, 2020 during a crackdown on mass organizations. He was an organizer for Kilusang Mayong Uno Negros to help form unions and lend a hand during the Camella workers’ fight against contractualization.
Quiatchon came from a humble background, with his father a farmer, and his mother a laundry domestic worker. He only finished Grade 3 as poverty forced him to work at a very young age of 16 as a construction worker and a porter of bananas and muscovado sugar at Alter Trade Corporation (ATC). He states he wants a better life for the workers, carrying the advocacy of protecting the life and rights of all peoples.
Romulo Bito-on, Jr.
Bito-on is a father of three boys and a loving husband to Mermalyn. He finished college, worked as a part-time researcher and later on as an activist. He was denied permission by the court his request to attend the marriage of his son, and missed the special occasion altogether. Still arrested, he is one of the 57 detained during the mass arrests of civil society organizations in Bacolod City last October 30, 2019.
Corazon Gazar Javier
57 years old during her arrest, Mrs. Javier was a resident of Lopez Jaena Street, Mabigo, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental. She is the chairperson of Gabirela, a national women’s rights organization, in Canlaon City. Her house was among those raided during the SEMPO 2 Operation last March 30, 2019. The police stated they found a hand grenade, wrapped in black tape, and a gun under their cushion bed where they are sleeping. Her husband is a stroke survivor, with she being the one taking care of him. While in jail, she suffered various illnesses.
Rea Casido
Rea Casido was pregnant when she was illegally arrested at around 3 am last June 28, 2019 by members of the 11th IB. 3ID, Alpha Coy led by. Benjamin B. Descotido (INF) PA> She was arrested in their place at Majora, Brgy. Lamogong, Majuyod, Negros Oriental, along with her husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law. Mrs. Casido just gave birth last March 9, 2020, and although she should be taking care of her new born baby, trumped up charges forced them to be separated. Rea is currently detained at Dumaguete City BJMP female dorm and accused of illegal possession of explosives, a victim of tanim-bala (placed evidence).
Azucena Avelino Garubat
Mrs. Garubat turned 59 last February 2020 and is a farmer from Sitio Carmen, Brgy. Panubigan, Canlaon City. She is a coordinator of Anakpawis and a member of Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Panubigan (NAMAPA), both of which advocate farmers’ rights. She is also a sister of farmers Edgardo Avelino, 59 years old, who is the chairman of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Canlaon City; and Ismael Avelnio, a member of NAMAPA. Both of her brothers were killed on March 30, 2019 in Sitio Carmen, Brgy. Panubigan, Canlaon City during the Synchronized Enhanced Managing of Police Operations (SEMPO) 2. The three siblings were neighbors. Garubat was arrested when her house was forcibly entered by the police operatives, with authorities alleging they recovered a rifle grenade. Her husband suffered from cancer and was not able to be taken cared of due to her situation, and passed away last March 2020.
Paghimutad 