BACOLOD City – Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Occidental called for an “extraordinary measure” this Holy Week – the release of political prisoners who, detained in cramped prison cells, are at risk of being infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“The sick and elderly, among them, are at extraordinary risk for severe cases of the virus. With outbreaks of COVID-19 sweeping the nation, exposing ‘prisoners of conscience’ to life-threatening peril is, frankly, unconscionable,” according to Alminaza.
Alminaza had been assigned at the Archdiocese of Jaro in Iloilo City a few years ago before his transfer to Negros Occidental.
“We can all attest that these are not ordinary days. The entire nation seeks to cooperate with social and physical distancing protocols. Yet, cases of COVID-19 infections are increasing everyday around the archipelago. This is a time for saving lives through much-needed grace and ingenuity,” according to the bishop.
He warned of a health disaster in jails during this time of COVID-19 pandemic.
“An undeniable threat of catastrophe hovers over jails, filled far beyond capacity in the Philippines. Decongesting facilities will help secure the lives of detainees and jail personnel. We must muster
courage to address the glaringly high-risk of a COVID-19 outbreak, now forced upon those behind bars,” stated Alminaza in a statement.
Releasing prisoners, especially the political ones, is a “humane, good, and loving” thing to do, he stressed.
“Peace advocates appeal that political prisoners should be ‘top of the list’ for release. In light of the unilateral ceasefires called by the Duterte administration and National Democratic Front of the Philippine, the release of political prisoners will be a strong confidence-building measure towards the fruition of the peace process between the two parties,” Alminaza added.
During this COVID-19 pandemic, he said, “We can be embracing efforts to inspire mutual-cooperation and community- preparedness.”
According to the bishop, there are over 600 political prisoners “detained under often questionable and dubious charges.”
In the island of Negros alone, said Alminaza, most of the more than 90 political prisoners were arrested in the last 18 months.
“The Duterte administration should act with utmost urgency to decongest prisons as well as engage mass testing and provide separate quarantine facilities; or else, God forbid, prisons and those in them may sink,” warned Alminaza./PN
