Noynoy asked: Release all political detainees

http://opinion. inquirer. net/inquireropin ion/letterstothe editor/view/ 20100615- 275800/Noynoy- asked-Release- all-political- detainees

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:13:00 06/15/2010

Filed Under: Benigno Aquino III, Politics

THE TASK FORCE DETAINEES of the Philippines (TFDP), as a human rights organization, welcomes incoming President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s pledge, made during a meeting with delegations of the European Union, to track down perpetrators of extrajudicial killings in the country. (Inquirer, 6/1/10)

If he keeps his word, it will create a big difference. The outgoing Arroyo administration has instigated and abetted a culture of impunity in our society. The incoming president should also immediately free all political prisoners and political detainees as a confidence-building measure in attaining peace, and enjoin the NDF and MILF to seriously tackle the basic roots of social conflict in the peace negotiation table. TFDP’s records show that we have 262 political prisoners and detainees jailed across the country as of March 2010.

We need not remind the president-elect that his father, the late Ninoy Aquino, was himself a political prisoner and upon his return became a victim of extrajudicial killing. The late President Cory Aquino immediately released political prisoners and political detainees during the start of her term as a gesture of peace and reconciliation.

We expect no less from the son on whose shoulders now rests the task of building this nation from the ravages of corruption, impunity and poverty.

Filipinos deserve to enjoy freedom and democracy and a peaceful life for all.

—EMMANUEL AMISTAD,
executive director,
Task Force Detainees
of the Philippines,
tfdp1974@yahoo. com