After studying the documents submitted by six progressive lawmakers and the Philippines’ justice secretary, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), has expressed concern over the political persecution of six party-list representatives.

BY AUBREY MAKILAN
Bulatlat.com

After studying the documents submitted by the six progressive lawmakers and the justice secretary, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in a confidential decision, expressed concern over the political persecution of six progressive legislators in the country.

In its four-page decision, a copy of which was obtained by Bulatlat, the IPU stated, it “is further deeply concerned” over “the prosecution attempts to criminalize legally authorized political parties, which participated in the 2001 and 2004 elections and the parliamentary work of their representatives.”

The decision was adopted by its Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians during its 114th session on July 11-14, 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland. IPU is a permanent observer of the United Nations and has 146 affiliated parliaments from all over the world.

Continuous persecution

The persecuted lawmakers being referred to were party list Reps. Saturnino Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño, and Joel Virador of Bayan Muna (People First), Crispin Beltran and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis (Toiling Masses), and Liza Maza of Gabriela Women’s Party.

The six have been charged with rebellion along with former Sen. Gregorio Honasan and 40 others.

The lawmakers were described in the confidential decision as “all known to be outspoken critics of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s policies.”

The decision further stated that it is “deeply concerned,” in the light of the foregoing, at the continuing detention of Beltrán, which is detrimental to his state of health. It “calls” once again on the authorities to release him.

Beltran, 71, was arrested by the national police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Feb. 25. He remains confined under police custody at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. The decision stated that Beltran’s “state of health has worsened in detention” in the “prison hospital.”

The decision also noted the attempts of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security (COC-IS) to bar Ocampo from travelling to Jakarta on May 26 and June 12 despite the official authorization from the House speaker.

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