Appeal for President Aquino
to release Juanito “Nitoy” Itaas
Dear
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III:
Greetings.
Juanito
Itaas is one of the country’s 328 political prisoners and detainees. It has
been 25 years since he was arrested, tortured, wrongfully accused, and
eventually, unjustly convicted and imprisoned for the killing of U.S. Army Col.
James Rowe in 1989.
Nitoy
was a Davao resident and farm worker when he was arrested. It was his first
time in Manila in 1989 when he was presented to the media. Rowe was killed in
Quezon City. Nitoy was a fall guy and only admitted killing Rowe because he was
tortured.
Nitoy
is now 50 years old and married to Glenda Itaas. They have three children, a son and two
daughters, all of whom were conceived during conjugal visits at the New Bilibid
Prison. Their children never experienced a normal and happy family life. It is
Nitoy’s fervent wish to be a full-time husband to Glenda and a full-time father
to their children.
In
1992, Nitoy was recommended for release, but the U.S. government interfered and
protested. Appeals have been made to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the
Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC), but to no avail.
Mr.
President, we humbly request that you look into the case of Juanito Itaas and
release him for humanitarian reasons. This is also your chance to fulfill your
administration’s promise in 2011 in relation to the release of all political
prisoners in the country.
For
human rights, we remain.
TASK FORCE DETAINEES OF
THE PHILIPPINES
Sign petition @ Change.org
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