First batch of 10 political prisoners freed

Ten political prisoners, comprising the first batch of offenders ordered released by President Arroyo, stepped into freedom yesterday and urged her to free friends they had left behind in prison.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez presented the released men to the press at the multipurpose hall of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and said the government is still reviewing the papers of other prisoners for possible release.

The prisoners, still clad in orange New Bilibid Prison uniforms, were among the 73 political detainees ordered released by the President last month in an effort to speed up the renewal of peace talks with communist and Muslim rebels. Left-wing and cause-oriented groups have demanded the release of over 200 jailed offenders.

Released yesterday were Rolieto Anquillano, Alberto Beron, Tomas Brusas, Ma-nuel Isetada, Vivencio Lagada, Ronilo Mapinhag, Amancio Mesario, Danilo Navasquez, Oscar Oliva and Romeo Yasar.

Appearing confused by the jumble of television ca-meras before them, some prisoners covered their eyes from the glare. They later raised their fists and demanded the release of all their jailed comrades nationwide.

"I don’t know whether I should be happy," said Anquillano, one of the freed communist rebels. "There are still many others who were left behind."

Anquillano said he was captured in 1983 in Abra during an encounter between communist rebels and Army troops. Five of his rebel companions were killed in the firefight.

The DOJ actually presented 17 prisoners to reporters. The seven others still had to go through bureaucratic formalities yesterday before they could return to the streets.

Perez said the government was simply awaiting the approval of the prisoners’ withdrawal of appeal with the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.

"As soon as the appeals are withdrawn, they shall be released," the DOJ chief said.

Of the 73 political prisoners approved for release, 19 were Muslims arrested last year for the SM Megamall and Glorietta bombings.

Perez said prisoners Donato Continente and Juanito Itaas, convicted for the 1991 ambush-slay of US intelligence officer James Rowe, were not included in the list.

‘Jail Estrada instead’

The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (Karapatan) yesterday welcomed the approval of the release.

"This is a step in the right direction, an act that will surely be appreciated by family and friends of the political prisoners," Bayan chairman Rafael Mariano said.

Karapatan secretary general Marie Hilao Enriquez urged the President "to gloss over pressures from the military and the US Embassy who want more Filipinos jailed and dubbed as criminals."

"We want a stop to the suffering of the prisoners and their families. Former President Joseph Estrada more than deserves to replace all the innocent political prisoners," Enriquez said.

Bayan challenged Mrs. Arroyo to free the over 200 prisoners who remain in jail and for her "to reverse the inhuman and undemocratic policy of jailing and criminalizing political offenders."

The 10 released prisoners were scheduled to be welcomed by family and friends at the Bayan national office in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. – With Sandy Araneta, Jose Rodel Clapano