Party-list lawmakers hold ‘sympathy fast’ for ‘Morong 43’

Seven party-list lawmakers and their staff on Wednesday held a "sympathy fast" to support the 43 detained health workers who are now on hunger strike to press the government to release them. Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano and their respective staff skipped lunch and congregated at the North Wing lobby of the House of Representatives in Quezon City from Wednesday noon to 1 p.m. They brought with them bottled water and soda crackers that they shared. Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, Gabriela Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Luz Ilagan, Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, who were out of town, reportedly also skipped lunch to show their support. Casiño and Mariano said they are planning to do this until the detained health workers — dubbed as the “Morong 43" — are released. "In solidarity with the Morong 43, we are holding our own sympathy fast here in Congress. Starting December 8, we pledge to skip our daily lunch and, as far as practicable, take only water and biscuits for the duration of the day. In this way, we hope to add to the widespread clamor for their release," the lawmakers said. Casiño said they are also getting pledges from their colleagues to join the fasting. The party-list representative accused President Benigno Aquino III of having a "double standard" when it comes to policy on human rights. "President Aquino has shown haste in the grant of amnesty to [Armed Forces of the Philippines] soldiers who rose against the government while leaving 43 health workers illegally arrested and detained by the AFP to rot in jail," Casiño said. He noted that Aquino has in fact stated that the health workers were arrested based on a defective warrant. He also said the detainees have suffered physical and psychological torture while in detention. Last Friday, the health workers started a hunger strike to call for their immediate release. Some of them reportedly got sick on the third day. However, Aquino on Tuesday said with finality that he would let the courts decide on the Morong 43 case. “The Morong 43 has appealed to President Aquino to effect their release by ordering the [Department of Justice] to withdraw the charges against them, to no avail. Left with no recourse, they started an indefinite hunger strike to press for their freedom last December 3. We hope that our colleagues in the House can join us in this sympathy fast for the Morong 43, and for justice and human rights in the country," Casiño said. The 43 were arrested last February on suspicion that they were members of the communist New People's Army (NPA). They were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Thirty-eight of the health workers are detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City while the rest are still at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV