By Mark Vincent A. Durano

Progressive groups in solidarity urged justice for political prisoners and their freedom from state forces, observing the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture last June 26.

According to human rights group Karapatan’s data, there are currently 745 documented political prisoners as of March 2025, 160 of which were arrested during the Marcos Jr. administration.

Out of the hundreds of political prisoners, 15 are National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultants and staff, 100 are sickly, 148 are women, and 106 are elderly.

During a protest action in front of the Department of Justice in Manila last June 26, progressive groups denounced the government for imposing its power to accuse organizers and activists with charges such as under the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Law.

They also highlighted how activists have been patterned to be red-tagged and labeled as terrorists, asserting that activism is not terrorism.

Kabataan Partylist Representative-elect Renee Co backed how activists should not be villainized for fighting for their advocacies.

“Hindi krimen ang magmahal sa bayan. Hindi krimen ang magmahal ng kapuwa natin at humiling at magtrabaho para may bagong klase ng sistema na sumasagot sa mga pasanin natin,” she said.

Co claimed that the State perpetuates a system that responds to the demands of the people with violence, imprisonment, and abduction.

She also condemned the “torture-like” conditions the political prisoners experience.

“Halos walang toiletries, hindi makagala, hindi makatulog dahil wala namang espasyo, walang bentilasyon, may nahi-heatstroke, ‘pag tuwing may kailangan ng medical attention hindi na lang napapansin, may napapatay,” the congresswoman-elect decried.

Moreover, Co urged a budget increase for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology not for harassment, but for improving the living conditions of political prisoners.

She also asked to give political detainees consideration and to have them freed immediately.

On the other hand, Katribu Spokesperson Funa-ay Claver underscored how national minorities like indigenous people are also subject to “unjust” imprisonment. 

She cited the case of Dumagat farmer activists Rocky Torres and Dandoy Avellaneda who were arrested in May 2018.

“Ikinulong sila na walang sapat na batayan dahil sila lamang ay tagapagtanggol, aktibistang magsasaka (They were jailed without any sufficient evidence because they were only defenders, farmer activists),” the spokesperson asserted.

Claver also said that Torres and Avellaneda were red-tagged and forced to confess as members of the New People’s Army. They were also said to be denied legal access, adding to the farmers’ psychological torture.

Furthermore, Claver highlighted the psychological torture that indigenous people experience through the intimidation and presence of military forces in ancestral communities where red-tagging is rampant.

“Kinokondisyon ang mga katutubo at mamamayan na ang pagtindig para sa karapatan ay isang krimen at ang sinumang mangahas na lumaban o ipaglaban ang kanilang lupang ninuno ay isang terorista o isang rebelde,” she expressed.

In the fight for justice, the spokesperson also mentioned trans woman broadcaster and human rights advocate Ali Macalintal who was gunned in General Santos City last June 23.

“Isa rin po siya sa kailangan nating ipanawagan na magkaroon ng hustisya dahil maliban sa torture na kaniyang naranasan ay tumuloy ito [sa pagpatay] dahil sa kaniyang adbokasiya, dahil sa pagtatanggol niya ng karapatang pantao,” Claver said.

Macalintal was also said to be a former political prisoner who underwent alleged torture.

From former political prisoners

Meanwhile, Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto Vice Chairperson and Martial Law survivor Danilo Dela Fuente stood firm in resisting any kind of state violence and inhumanity.

“Sa konteksto ng Pilipinas, napapanahon ang panawagan para sa pagpapalaya ng mga bilanggong pulitikal—mga mamamayang ikinulong dahil sa kanilang paninindigan at pakikibaka para sa karapatan, katarungan at pagbabago sa lipunan,” he said.

Dela Fuente was arrested in 1982 when the military raided the headquarters of the National Federation of Labor and suffered 24 days of brutality. He was also blindfolded for 79 hours.

The vice chairperson also condemned the suffering of innocent political detainees inside prisons while real human rights violators are free of any charges.

Additionally, former political prisoner Gap Arlegui also joined the protest, sharing what state forces did to him and JR Viernes when they were arrested in 2019 and dubbed as ‘Angat 2.’

“Pinusasan sa likod ang aming mga kamay, tinali ang dalawang paa, duct tape sa bibig. Sinampahan ng gawa-gawang kaso, nakulong nang anim na taon sa Bulacan Provincial Jail at nakalaya noong February 4 dahil sa walang katotohanang isinampang kaso laban sa amin,” he stated.

The two labor organizers were displaying election posters when the police arrested and lodged them with charges for allegedly possessing explosives and firearms.

Arlegui also highlighted how organizing is a movement to end state power imposition and not a crime.

From families

The protest also called for the release of Prudencio Cebu Calubid Jr. who was falsely identified as Prudencio Calubid, an NDFP consultant who disappeared 19 years ago on the same day along with three more including his spouse.

The 81-year-old Calubid was presented with a warrant of arrest by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Olongapo last December 2024. His family backed that he was not the one the police were looking for.

Additionally, Calubid Jr.’s daughter Analyn urged the PNP to heed their calls and uphold the truth behind the detainee’s real name.

“Sana makonsensiya kayo sa ginawa nyo sa tatay ko na 81 years old, nananawagan po ako na palayaain niyo na ang aking ama na si Prudencio Cebu Calubid Jr. na ipinakita na namin lahat ng ebidensiya,” she slammed.

Analyn also reported that they have known that the NDFP consultant is tied to a P7.8-million bounty.

On the same date, Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan had been missing since they were working on their college thesis in Hagonoy, Bulacan last June 26, 2006.

Their family worked through-and-through to seek accountability for the two activists’ disappearance, pointing towards and imprisoning then-General Jovito Palparan for 40 years under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

However, Karen and Sherlyn’s mothers Concepcion and Linda, respectively, denounced how Palparan has been under a claimed special treatment.

“Pero balita natin, nasa magandang palagay pa siya. Siya ay binigyan ng VIP treatment at samantala’y ‘yung mga kasama niyang dalawa na militar nasa maximum [security compound], siya ay minimum at balita pa natin ay nag-oopisina pa siya doon,” Concepcion said.

Linda also stressed that true justice can only be obtained when they see her desaparecido daughter again.

“Ang aming pong tagumpay, hindi po ‘yon tagumpay namin, dahil ang aming hinahanap ay wala pa rin hanggang ngayon. Araw-araw po ay ipapaalala iyan dahil sila po ay makakatulong sa lipunan na ito,” she stated.

They also underlined how their daughters’ activism should not have been vilified especially when they experienced social crises such as poverty.

“Noon, passive lang ako sa mga nangyari pero nung na-involve na si Karen, talagang ganun pala, ikamamatay ng isang ina ang pagkawala ng kaniyang anak. Hanggang ngayon, naipangako ko sa sarili ko hangga’t buhay ako, si Karen ay buhay din sa akin,” Concepcion affirmed.

The United Nations declared June 26 as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the same day when the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was convened in 1987.

(Photo by Melvin James Urubio/FEU Advocate)