One year after their release, Morong 43 still cry for justice

Reference -  GaryLiberal, R.N.  -  Mobile: (0922)5751689 / Telefax: (+632929.8109)

                      Spokesperson,Morong 43

 One year aftertheir release, Morong 43 still cry for justice

 Today, as theworld celebrates the International Day of Human Rights, members of the Morong43 march with hundreds of others in Mendiola, Manila to amplify their call forjustice.

 “If there is onething that 10 months of illegal incarceration and torture did to us, it isproving to ourselves and the people that the military under the Arroyo andAquino governments failed to break our spirits in our quest for justice,” NurseGary Liberal said.

 Marching alongsidehundreds of others, whose economic and political rights are continued to betrampled upon, Liberal commented that the Aquino administration should workdouble time in building people’s confidence in the country’s justice system andnot working “over-time in giving Mrs. Arroyo special treatment” by allowing herto stay in a plush presidential suite at Veterans Memorial Medical Center(VMMC).

 Liberal remindedMr. Aquino that he should pay more attention to the inhumane conditions withinregular detention facilities around the country before minding the health andcomfort (including the installation of new toilets) of Mrs. Arroyo atVMMC.  He added that ordinary prisoners die of curable and preventablediseases due to lack of medical attention, proper nutrition, andcongestion.  “He [Mr. Aquino] may be denying it, but according specialtreatment to Mrs. Arroyo speaks a lot about his bias for the rich andpowerful.”

 The spokespersonmaintained that Mrs. Arroyo should be placed in a regular jail just like anyregular civilian. 

 “It is shamefulfor Mr. Aquino to trumpet his parents’ legacy for being human rights defendersand staunch fighters for democracy while he continues to tolerate and encouragethe culture of impunity by not doing anything to put make human rightsviolators accountable for their crimes.  To date, not a single one of ourtorturers has been tried in court,” he added.

 Liberal furtheredthat the best gift that Mr. Aquino could ever grant their families and those ofother human rights victims and political prisoners is to “make Mrs. Arroyo andher cohorts pay for their crimes and grant general, omnibus, unconditionalamnesty to more than 300 political prisoners in 65 jails nationwide.” This includes 2 of the Morong 43 who are still in jail.

 He enjoined theFilipino people in their call to “end impunity, justice for the Morong 43, jailGMA now!”

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Giving in to constantlocal and international pressure on his government, Mr. Aquino declared thatthe charges against the 43 health workers will be dropped followed by orders torelease them.  On December 17, 2010,  36 of the Morong 43 walkedfree.  Two of their colleagues are still in jail because of trumped-upcharges slapped by a Metro Manila court.