THE human-rights watchdog Karapatan has belied the claim of President Duterte that he had conceded so much to the demands of the National Democratic Front (NDF), including the release of almost all detained activists.
Karapatan said on Tuesday morning that Duterte’s revelation on May 31 at the Sasa Wharf in Davao City was correct only insofar as the release of sickly and elderly political prisoners, or those 70-years-old and older.
“The President’s statements are either misguided or malicious. Whether this is another plot to twist the story in favor of the government and frame the NDF as irrational and unreasonable, or a situation where the President is merely kept in the dark about the real score on his promised releases, the fact remains that only 23 political prisoners—17 NDF consultants and two others—were freed for humanitarian reasons in August 2016, all on bail. Four others were pardoned on December 2016 and were released in line with the peace talks,” Karapatan Deputy Secretary- General Jigs Clamor said.
As of May 15 Clamor said Karapatan has documented 402 detained activists, 39 of whom were arrested under Duterte.
The number includes three more NDF peace consultants—Ferdinand Castillo, Promencio Cortez and Rommel Salinas.
Clamor said from the list Karapatan submitted last May, only 67 detainees have been released on the merit of their cases.
“Most charges were dismissed by the courts, while many of them have served their sentences, and a few others are out on bail. If only for a small fraction, justice has won, but nothing can compensate for the government neglect they suffered whilst in jail,” he added.