The Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) in a statement released today condemned the alleged “tanim baril” incident involving Pertinisa Charito, a farmer and wife of political prisoner Leon Charito.

Charito, an active member of both the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) and KAPATID (families and friends of Political Detainee), was reportedly found carrying a small caliber .22 pistol  inside the BJMP San Carlos District Jail, where her husband is detained, around 1pm last February 13.

Her husband, Leon Charito, is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. He was arrested last September 18, 2019 during an educational campaign against the Escalante Massacre.

Last month, Charito was one of the Negros delegates who met with UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan on Freedom of Opinion and Expression.

According to HRAN, this raises suspicions of retaliation against those who seek international attention for human rights violations in the country. They added that the incident represents a new modus operandi to harass the families of political prisoners in the country.

Fides Lim, spokesperson for KAPATID, denounced the arrest as an act of political persecution. Lim questioned the plausibility of Charito knowingly risking her freedom by bringing a firearm into a jail facility where security checks are routine, especially in light of the heightened scrutiny faced by activists and their families.

KAPATID urged the Commission on Human Rights and international rights bodies to investigate the incident and ensure Pertinisa Charito’s legal assistance and protection from police harassment.

Likewise, HRAN called for the dismissal of the charges against Pertinisa Charito.