Gabriela slams Duterte for refusal to free detainees

MANILA, Philippines — Militant women’s organization Gabriela on Saturday expressed dismay over President Rodrigo Duterte’s refusal to release political prisoners.

“President Duterte is twisting Lady Justice’s arms to suit his whims and the self-serving urgings of enemies of peace within his circle,” the women’s organization said.

Gabriela joined human rights advocates and the families of political detainees in protest rallies commemorating the 68^th International Human Rights Day in Manila and other cities.

Former political detainee and spokesperson for the "Free Our Sisters, Free Ourselves" international campaign of Gabriela, Sharon Cabusao-Silva, stressed that the right to liberty of women jailed for their fight to keep democracy alive is fundamental.

“Keeping them in jail when they should have never been there in the first place is another violation of these individuals’ right to be free, Cabusao-Silva said.

“A golden opportunity is right before his (Duterte’s) eyes to make lasting peace possible in this country. Yet he squanders that opportunity with his obstinacy and by kowtowing to the wishes of warmongers. He must come to the negotiating table with clean hands, a clear mind and a heart that only has the people’s best interest in it,” she added.

Cabusao-Silva also appealed to the government peace panel and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to stop making promises and just mobilize their resources to set free the detainees. She said the release of prisoners through the usual legal process will take time and incur several expenses while the president’s declaration of general amnesty will only take a few signatures.

She said it is the most human process for the political prisoners and their families.

Gabriela also slammed Duterte’s administration for obsessing on the drug war and ignoring the urgency of addressing other issues such as the the social and economic rights of women and poor families. 

Last November 28, chief government peace negotiator and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the political detainees including the elderly, women and the sick are expected to be released once Duterte signs the release order. However, Duterte wanted  to secure a bilateral truce between the peace panels of the government and the National Democratic Front first before signs the release order. — Rosette Adel