In a 2014 interview with Bulatlat, the Tiamzon spouses detailed their political awakening as student activism flourished at the University of the Philippines at the time of the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
The Tiamzons were severely tortured with witnesses reporting that they “saw how the faces and bodies of the victims were smashed, apparently beaten with hard objects.”
Edre Olalia, president of the National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL) and lawyer of Wilma Austria said this is “a politically motivated persecution and hardline attack” as it was resurrected out of nowhere after 30 years.
Duterte’s recognition and respect for these previously-signed agreements has opened doors for both the resumption of peace talks and the release of political prisoners through peace talks.”
“We see this as a positive step towards ‘straightening’ rights violations committed against political prisoners and the Filipino people.”
“But the main question here is, where did they really find those clothes?”
The dismissal was due to the failure of the prosecution to bring before the court the complainants of the nearly 30-year-old case.
“These women who exercise their right to take part on political affairs are jailed because they are unjustly seen as threats to the BS Aquino government.”
“To continue the judicial proceedings inside a police fortress under very hostile conditions and atmosphere, and beyond open scrutiny is inconsistent with the minimum requirements of due process.”
BLOOD RUSH By SARAH RAYMUNDO The liberal tide that once set apart emergent capitalism from feudalism’s obsolescence is now a plague that threatens all living systems. Neoliberalism aims to prolong capitalism’s lease on lives and labor by converting what the latter identifies as last frontiers into its own likeness. And it does this through the…
As of Nov. 30, there are 491 political prisoners in the country, based on Karapatan data. Of these, 220 were arrested under President Aquino’s term. There are 53 ailing prisoners, 43 female prisoners, 42 elderly, and six minors.
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