'Morong 43' holds hunger strike

Friday, December 3, 2010

MANILA (Updated 1:01 p.m.) -- Detained health workers suspected as communist rebels went on a hunger strike Friday calling for their immediate release.

Reports said the hunger strike began at 6 a.m. in their detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

"Today, we begin our hunger strike. This is the only course of action left us to end our continued illegal detention, there being no clear action by the government for our unconditional release," the so-called Morong 43 said in a statement.

The group said its members were arrested by a joint operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police based on a defective warrant, a claim that was supported by Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.

“We were tortured physically and psychologically, deprived of sleep, subjected to various indignities, threatened with harm, denied legal counsel for several days and illegally detained until now. Planted evidence was used and false charges were filed against us. Our human rights continue to be violated. Every day in jail is an injustice to us,” the group said.

The health workers, which include two doctors, a nurse, a midwife and some volunteers, were arrested on February 6 during an alleged bomb making workshop in Morong, Rizal.

Of the 43, three were held for illegal possession of firearms while the 40 are facing the non-bailable offense of illegal possession of explosive devices.

The Morong 43 said it will only stop the hunger strike if President Benigno Aquino III ordered the withdrawal of the cases against the group.

Despite calls from lawmakers and human rights advocates here in the country and abroad for their release, Aquino has not ordered to withdraw the charges against them.

“Our action today and in the succeeding days is a call to President Aquino to simply order the withdrawal of the case against us forthwith so that we may be immediately and unconditionally released,” the group said.

“We believe it is only fitting that we stage this hunger strike as the world observes Human Rights Week. We fight not only for our freedom but for the freedom of all political prisoners nationwide,” it added. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)