Aquino urged to free political prisoners before Christmas

President Benigno Aquino III should grant amnesty to more than 300 political prisoners as an "act of justice" before Christmas, progressive party-list lawmakers said Monday. Seven sectoral representatives said they will file a House resolution later in the day urging Aquino to free the political prisoners, including 13 consultants of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). The lawmakers said the Christmas season will be an “opportune time" for the Aquino administration to grant amnesty and to boost the peace process with the CPP. "This should be more an act of justice rather than a mere confidence building measure for the upcoming peace negotiations, considering that they are all victims of political repression," they said in a joint statement issued Monday. The lawmakers who made the appeal to Malacañang include: Bayan Muna party-list Representatives Teodoro Casiño and Neri Colmenares, Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana de Jesus, Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino and ACT Teachers’ party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio. They added that the granting of the "long delayed" amnesty to the political prisoners will be a "good move" on the part of the government after the New People’s Army (NPA), the CPP’s armed wing, released Mayor Henry Dano of Lingig town in Surigao del Sur and his two military escorts on Sunday. In October last year, President Aquino granted amnesty to more than 300 military officers and personnel involved in three military uprisings during the Arroyo administration. A group of 43 health workers jailed on suspicion that they were NPA rebels, collectively known as the “Morong 43," was also freed before Christmas last year after Malacañang ordered the withdrawal of charges against them. — RSJ, GMA News