AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

We, the members of the Umangat–Migrante in Rome, Solidarity Movement (Solidmove) of concerned priests, religious and lay, concerned international migrant organisations, and the participants of this Solidarity Forum – Rome, are deeply concerned and raged with anger about the illegal arrest, detention and torture of the 43 health workers who are maliciously accused of being members and supporters of the New Peoples Army (NPA) by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The illegal arrest of 43 health workers last February 6 by the 300 soldiers of the 202nd IB, and PNP personnel who raided the rest house of Dr. Melecia Velmonte at 6:15 am and forcibly taken the health workers who were undergoing a First Responders' Training in Morong, Rizal was a serious violation of their human and constitutional rights (Art. 3 Bill of Rights Sec. 1-2). The raid was conducted with a bogus search warrant, searched the house of Dr. Velmonte without her presence or anyone, and falsely accused the health workers of having found with guns and explosives materials in their rooms.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is deemed to be the protector of the people, but the tragic drama of the arrest and torture of health care personnel proved otherwise. The AFP is desperately running out of tactics and strategies in beating the deadline of compliance to the Operation Freedom Watch II (a counter-insurgency program) of the present administration, and their promise and allegiance to their Commander in Chief Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to wipe out insurgents by the year 2010. The AFP were caught lying to the public and thus resorted to torture to cover up their shame and human rights violations.

Recently, the Philippine government has signed the anti-torture law and also one of the state parties on the International Law (under United Nations) on Human Rights which adheres to respect and adopt the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. However, the series of abductions and summary executions of members of progressive blocs, and the recent attacked against health care personnel and volunteers who shared their time and skills in order to serve the people voluntarily, are clear indications of the lack of seriousness of the present administration to curb human rights violations in the country.

We are calling then for an immediate release of the 43 health care personnel, and prosecute the real perpetrators of human rights violations the soonest possible. We will not stop fighting until their rights are granted and their cause are vindicated.

LET GENUINE DEMOCRACY RULE, NO TO MILITARY RULE!

FREE MORONG 43! THEY ARE INNOCENTS!

SET THEM FREE NOW!

For reference:

Teddy Dalisay              

Umangat Gen Sec    

email: umangatmigrante@gmail.com 

Fr. Aris Miranda, MI

Sec - SOLIDMOVE

arismiranda@yahoo.com