Morong 43's kin ‘not tired of knocking on Palace doors’

(Updated 8:04 p.m.) Nine months after their arrest, the 43 health workers suspected of being rebel trainees as well as their relatives and friends are getting impatient about their release, but hasten to add that they will not get tired of “knocking on Palace doors." The relatives and friends of the 43 said they still hope President Benigno Aquino III will heed their call and immediately release their loved ones. “Sana naman, gumalaw-galaw naman (I wish the case would get moving)," said Allyn Montes, daughter of Dr. Alexis Montes, one of the Morong 43, in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. Allyn also said she fears the arraignment of the rebellion charges filed against the 43 will again be postponed on Monday. The 43 were arrested in Morong, Rizal last Feb. 6 on suspicion that they were New People's Army members who were being trained in the use of explosives. They were promptly tagged as the “Morong 43," and their arrest condemned by human rights advocates and community-oriented health groups.
To mark the ninth month of the Morong 43’s arrest, their relatives and supportive groups gathered on Saturday in Quezon City and proceeded to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City where 38 of the 43 are jailed. The detained health workers' kin were initially prevented from entering the detention center because of the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s red alert status, but were later allowed to visit their jailed relatives after presenting necessary permits. Last Friday, relatives and supporters of the Morong 43 went to Malacañang seeking an audience with Aquino but failed to do so. Malacañang’s response, they said, was for Presidential guards to call only a representative from the Malacañang’s Records Office to entertain them. “As usual, sa nth time namin ay di pa rin kami binigyan ng appointment para sa follow-up request letter na ibinigay namin, a week ago. Ginawa lang sa amin, may guards (PSG) na sumalubong tapos, pinalabas yung taga-records ng Palasyo, tapos wala na. Ni di kami kinausap ng appointment personnel," said Dr. Julie Caguiat of the Free the 43 Health Workers! Alliance. (As usual, for the nth time, we were again denied an appointment for the follow-up request letter that we submitted a week ago. The only response was, Presidential guards came to meet us, then had someone from the Palace records section to come out. The appointment personnel didn’t even talk to us.) But Caguiat said they will not tire knocking at the Palace’s door until the President hears their plea. “Every day that they spend in jail, is a day of injustice," she said.—With Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV