POLITICAL DETENTION IN THE PHILIPPINES TASK FORCES DETAINEES OF PHILIPPINES http://www.tfdp.org/resources/ar_detention.

htm September 2003 Detention is more than stonewalls, barbed wires and iron bars; Guard towers and armed guards; Jailers and jailed; And seemingly senseless rules and regulations. Detention is boredom and loneliness; Loss of privacy and regimentation; Frustration and impotence; Periods of hope followed by hopelessness, Like stormy waves that can drown a man. - Former Senator Jose W. Diokno In life, one of the most difficult things to deal with is uncertainty. Not knowing what would happen next and not even having a clue as what to expect are very much frustrating. Some people are lucky to have an idea of how their lives would turn out. Some are privileged that they have control of what would happen to them. There are, however, some people who are not as lucky. Ricardo Nalundasan is one of them. Only in his mid-30s, Ric has already spent seven years of his life inside the Manila City Jail as a political detainee. He was on his last semester in flying school when he decided to become a full-time community organizer. Not much later, he was suspected of being a member of the Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB) and was arrested. He was charged with the murder of a police officer. Ric's family, especially his mother, was devastated with what happened to him. Nanay Nalundasan could not do anything but to continue to seek the assistance of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) and other human rights organizations to help fast track the release of his son. Ric's father was recently diagnosed with throat cancer and is currently undergoing therapy. Ric's wife, on the other hand, gave birth two months ago. She is now preparing her papers so she could go to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper and be able to provide for their son. The Department of Justice - Presidential Committee for the Grant of Bail, Recognizance and Pardon (DOJ - PCBREP) has recommended the release of Ric on recognizance. Despite this, he is still not assured of being released any time soon. Irene Plagtiosa is currently detained at the Canlaon City Jail in Western Visayas. She was charged with murder at Guihulngan Regional Trial Court, Negros Occidental but she was in Cebu City working in a furniture shop when the incident for which she is charged with, happened. Irene and her two-year old child is sharing a room with an elderly woman stricken

with tuberculosis. Irene grew a cyst on her neck and her child is very much in danger of catching the elderly woman's illness. Political detention is not something new. Ric and Irene are not the only ones. The records of TFDP show that as of September 30, 2003, there are 217 political prisoners and detainees in 61 detention centers nationwide. Each of them has a story to tell. From the total number of political prisoners, there are nine (9) women, seven (7) elderly, and six (6) minors. The continuing existence of political prisoners in the Philippines remains as living evidence of suppression of the right to dissent in the country. The Philippines continues to boast of its democracy. It is also signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It is therefore absurd and very ironic that there is political detention. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers. Article 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. Article 9, UDHR and ICCPR It is more saddening that as part of the government's effort to discredit the political prisoners, they have been charged with criminal cases like murder, frustrated murder, homicide, kidnapping, robbery, illegal possession of firearms, among others. The Arroyo administration's "strong republic", along with its war on terrorism, does not, in any way, help the issue of the political prisoners. "The fast pace of her administration in implementing its anti-terrorism measures very much runs contrary to how slow the wheels of justice are moving for the political prisoners," lamented Fr. Ben Moraleda, TFDP Co-Chairperson. It is during occasions like the Political Prisoners' Day and the International Human Rights Day on December 7 and 10, respectively, when political prisoners ponder all the more about their fate. These occasions serve as reminders that they should not be inside the detention centers. Unlike common criminals, political prisoners did not commit anything against the law. It is their right to express their opinions and beliefs - these are part of them, and they should not be made to pay for standing up for their beliefs. There is and there should be no price for doing so. On December 7, families and relatives of political prisoners and victims of other human rights violations, along with human rights organizations will come together in a gathering to continue to draw government attention to the demand for the release of all political prisoners and justice for all victims of human rights violations.

"Magtitipon-tipon ulit kami ngayong Disyembre para na rin kumuha ng lakas mula sa isa't-isa at patuloy na umasa na makakasama na namin ang aming mga mahal sa buhay," Nanay Nalundasan quietly said.