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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Thursday, January 5, 2017
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MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has broken his promise to release all 430 political prisoners, according to a youth organization.
“Tapos na ang Pasko at Bagong Taon, ngunit ’di pa rin natupad ni Duterte ang pangako ng kanyang gobyernong palayain ang mga bilanggong pulitikal,” said Anakbayan national chief Vencer Crisostomo.
Earlier government chief peace negotiator Silvestre Bello promised to release on Christmas “between 50 and 70” political prisoners. However, only 20 were freed before the year 2016 ended.
Anakbayan took offense at Duterte’s statement that he could not release the political prisoners, who were considered his “ace cards” without the signing of a bilateral ceasefire.
“By treating political prisoners as mere trump cards to compel revolutionaries to surrender,” Crisostomo said, “Duterte shows that he is not serious in ensuring respect for human rights and implementing socioeconomic reforms to address the roots of armed conflict.”
The youth organization leader also reminded the President, who was a long-time mayor of Davao City, that political prisoners are “real people” and not “mere cards in political machinations.”
In August 2016 Duterte ordered the temporary release of at least 20 political prisoners to join the weeklong negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Oslo, Norway./PN
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