MANILA, Philippines — Binatikos ng mga human rights group nitong Martes si Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano matapos niyang tawaging “political prisoners” ang mga nakakulong na senador na sina Rodante Marcoleta at Jinggoy Estrada, na kapwa nahaharap sa kasong plunder.
Ayon sa Kapatid, isang organisasyon ng mga pamilya at kaibigan ng political prisoners, ang pangunahing katangian ng political imprisonment ay pag-uusig dahil sa paninindigang pampolitika o paggamit ng mga pangunahing karapatan.
“[T]he cases of these politicians and their den of thieves do not fit the definition. Their detention arises from stealing millions of public and campaign funds for personal gain—serious offenses involving the abuse of public office and the betrayal of public trust. They are not political prisoners,” pahayag ng Kapatid.
Sumuko at inaresto si Marcoleta nitong buwan kaugnay ng non-bailable plunder case dahil sa umano’y hindi pagdedeklara ng P75 milyong campaign donations.
Inaresto naman noong Hunyo si Estrada kaugnay ng hiwalay na kasong plunder na may kaugnayan sa kontrobersiya sa flood control projects.
“To describe those charged with corruption as ‘political prisoners’ distorts both law and history. The term ‘political prisoner’ is not a rhetorical device to sanitize corruption. It is reserved exclusively for those deprived of liberty for exercising their fundamental rights in the struggle for genuine social justice,” dagdag ng Kapatid.
Tinawag naman ni LAYA campaign spokesperson Amanda Echanis, isang dating political prisoner, na “grave insult to the 560 political prisoners and scores of former political prisoners who have been persecuted by the State” ang pahayag ni Cayetano.
“Excuse me, Sen. Cayetano, but plunderers cannot be considered as such because they are simply crooks in authority and mercenaries of their political patrons,” ani Echanis.
“They steal from public funds, live in luxury at the behest of the people’s poverty, and when made accountable for their crimes, they use their political capital to affirm the double standard of justice in the countr.”
Inakusahan din ni Echanis si Cayetano ng “using the language of human rights” upang ipagtanggol ang kanyang mga kaalyado sa Senate minority at ang umano’y “political patron” nitong si Vice President Sara Duterte sa impeachment court.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Cayetano na umano’y isa-isang “taken out” ang mga miyembro ng Senate minority kaugnay ng nagpapatuloy na impeachment trial ni Duterte. Dave Baluyot
