Published March 6, 2021, 12:52 PM
An advocacy group has urged the regional trial courts (RTCs) in Manila and Quezon City to dismiss the charges and order the release of five other persons who were arrested last Dec. 10 and charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
In a statement, Kapatid – a support group of families and friends of political prisoners – aired the call after the Mandaluyong City RTC last Friday, March 5, affirmed its decision that dismissed the charges against journalist Lady Ann D. Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo S. Esparago and ordered their release.
It said Romina Astudillo, Mark Ryan Cruz, Joel Demate, Jayme Gregorio and Dennise Velasco were arrested and charged like Salem and Esparago.
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Karapatan sent an “urgent appeal” to its allies, communities, and fellow human rights advocates, seeking their action against the massive crackdown on activists.
The group asked for their support and solidarity in calling for the immediate release of peasant organizer Amanda Echanis and her baby, including a journalist and trade unionists arrested in December.
They are Manila Today editor Lady Ann Salem, and labor organizers Dennise Velasco, Joel Demate, Rodrigo Esparago, Mark Ryan Cruz, Romina Astudillo, and Jaymie Gregorio, collectively known as Human Rights Day 7.
“The imprisonment of Echanis and the HRD 7 reveals the Duterte administration’s glaring practice of persecuting individuals who speak against government’s abuses and injustices,” Karapatan said.
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You Are Here:Home → 2020 → December → 24 → Kin, colleagues slam move to keep 4 union organizers in jail
Kin, colleagues slam move to keep 4 union organizers in jail
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Parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig. (My enthusiasm was immediately put off) If you could just imagine the mental anguish that we feel because all along we thought we will be with him this Christmas.”
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
MANILA – Four union organizers could have spent their Christmas with their families if not for what their lawyers called as “maneuvers” by the police to prevent their supposed release on Dec. 23.
Katherine Panguban of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) said that a release order was already issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 220 for Dennise Velasco, Mark Ryan Cruz, Romina Astudillo and Jaymie Gregorio, Jr., four of what now is collectively called as HRDay7. While they were processing their release, however, an amend
By Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Labor Commission |
December 22, 2020 Read more articles in Philippines
We strongly condemn the repression that has been unleashed against leading trade unionists in the Philippines and stand in solidarity with the militant labor federation Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) / May First Movement.
On Human Rights Day, December 10, the Philippine National Police raided the homes and jailed Dennise Velasco of Defend Jobs Philippines; Romina Astudillo, Deputy Secretary-General of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Metro Manila; Mark Ryan Cruz, Regional Executive Committee of KMU-Metro Manila; Jaymie Gregorio Jr. of KMU-Metro Manila; Joel Demate of Solidarity of Labor Rights and Welfare (SOLAR); Rodrigo Esparago of Sandigang Manggagawa sa Quezon City (SMQC), and journalist Lady Ann Salem, Communication Officer of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television and editor for the online news site Manila Today.