Militants ask Aquino to release all political prisoners

On Tuesday, exactly 38 years after Martial Law was declared on September 21, 1972, militants asked President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to release all political prisoners, especially those arrested under the Arroyo regime. The militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also asked Aquino to review the case of the "Morong 43," or the 43 health workers— including two doctors, a nurse and a midwife— arrested on February 6 in Morong town, Rizal, The 43 persons were arrested by a combined Army and police operatives on the suspicion of being members of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. However, those arrested insisted that they were merely attending a health training in a farmhouse owned by Dr. Melecia Velmonte, a renowned infectious disease specialist. “The continuing legacy of martial law can be seen in how the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) works to suppress the people, on how it systematically violates human rights such as the case of the Morong 43," said Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan secretary general. Denial of justice "The violation of their rights, their arrests and torture, are so reminiscent of martial law," Reyes said in an article posted on the Bayan website. Reyes also expressed dismay that Martial Law victims are still allegedly being denied justice up to now while the Marcoses are back in power. “This is a sad commentary indeed, a reflection of the failure of the past governments in making the Marcoses accountable for martial law," Reyes said. Bongbong Marcos is a senator, Imee Marcos a governor, and former First Lady Imelda Marcos a congresswoman. The late President Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law from 1972 to 1981 through Proclamation No. 1081 (Proclaiming a State of Martial Law in the Philippines), signed on September 21, 1972. “The people more than ever demand justice. Both the victims of Martial Law and Arroyo’s reign of terror continue to be denied justice," Reyes said. President Aquino a Martial Law victim President Aquino, who is himself a victim of Martial Law, should be decisive in addressing outstanding human rights issues, including the release of political prisoners," he added. The President's father, the late Senator Benigno Simeon Aquino Jr., was a vocal critic of President Marcos. After Martial Law was declared, Aquino was one of the first to be arrested and imprisoned on trumped-up charges of murder, illegal possession of firearms and subversion. “This government talks big on transparency and accountability but we have yet to see concrete results insofar as human right is concerned. What is disturbing is the commitment of the new administration to increase the number of troops, increase the funding for the AFP, and extend the US-directed counter-insurgency program known as Bantay Laya," Reyes said. Assembly of Martial Law victims Bayan's call for the release of political prisoners came hours before it led an assembly of Martial Law victims. A brief ceremony was led by 1970’s activists belonging to the First Quarter Storm Movement. The groups then marched to Mendiola, Manila and laid a wreath at the Chino Roces Monument, in memory of the martyrs of Martial Law. –VVP, GMANews.TV