Report: Morong 43’s kin picket DOJ

The relatives of the "Morong 43" or the 43 health workers arrested in February on suspicion of being communist rebels, picketed the Department of Justice (DOJ) office in Manila on Monday to ask for the immediate release of their loved ones. A report by radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo said the relatives, supported by members of militant groups, called on the DOJ to make public the results of its review of the case. The relatives brought with them photos of the 43 health workers, who marked the 10th month of their detention and the fourth day of their hunger strike on Monday. After the picket, they marched to the nearby Aglipayan Church along Taft Avenue to join other relatives of the 43 in their hunger strike. On the other hand, militants pressed Malacañang to come up with a categorical statement on the case. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said it is not enough for the Palace to simply insist that the case is up to the courts. “It’s been 10 months, two DOJ memoranda, two babies born in detention and countless appeals from the day the Morong 43 were illegally arrested, tortured, denied counsel and detained," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said in an article posted on the Bayan website. "It’s not enough that the Aquino government to say that the case is up to the courts. What the people want to know and what the detainees want to know, is what exactly will Malacanang do to rectify the situation?" Reyes asked. – VVP, GMANews.TV