OPEN LETTER TO CHIEF JUSTICE DIOSDADO
PERALTA
Dear
Hon. Peralta,
“In
many countries, detention facilities are overcrowded, making physical
distancing and self-isolation practically impossible. People are often held in
unhygienic conditions. Health services are inadequate – or non-existent – and
the virus “risks rampaging” through these vulnerable populations” (news.un.org, March 25, 2020).
Part of the global effort in
containing the Covid-19 pandemic is to decongest prisons and jails and reduce
the number of persons under detention. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Michelle Bachelet urged governments to release “every person detained without
sufficient legal basis, including political prisoners, and those detained for
critical dissenting views.”
We
understand the deathly impact that the Covid-19 brings, and are fully aware
that the description above also described our country’s jails and detention
centers. We join the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Human rights
advocates and families of the detainees, in calling on the Philippine
government for just and humanitarian reasons, to release the political
prisoners especially the sick and the elderly, those with chronic and
debilitating medical condition and pregnant women.
Furthermore,
persons under detention who are minor and low-risk offenders, and those who can
be safely reintegrated into society should be assessed and considered for
release from custody during the course of this pandemic.
Several
governments have already responded to the call and have released quite a number
of persons under detention. We urge our Philippine government to immediately
decongest prisons and prevent the spread of the dreaded virus in the many
congested jails and detention centers. As Bishop Gerardo Alminaza in a
statement said, “Decongesting facilities will help secure the lives of the
detainees and jail personnel.”
Release
all political prisoners!
Release the elderly, the sick, the pregnant women and low-risk offenders!
Let us save lives by decongesting our jails and detention facilities!
Free REY CLARO CASAMBRE!
Religious of the Good Shepherd