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.
Mandaluyong City RTC affirms Feb 5 ruling, orders release of journalist Salem, trade unionist Esparago mb.com.ph - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mb.com.ph Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
(FLICKR / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“We appeal to the court to carry out the most just and immediate action on Salem and Esparago, and that is to order them released,” said secretary general Cristina Palabay of Karapatan, a human rights group, in a statement.
“Letting them stay longer inside jail runs counter to the sound decision of the court, and furthers the violations committed against them from the point of their arrest, up to the trumped-up charges filed against them,” she said.
Palabay issued the statement after the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office opposed the release of Salem and Esparago and asked the RTC Branch 209 to reverse its ruling dismissing the charges.
(Photo courtesy of Free Lady Ann Salem Network)
“No less than the trial court said that the instant cases ‘have no leg to stand on.’ With this, we express concern why DOJ prosecutors are barring the release of the two whose rights were clearly violated when they were illegally arrested by government forces,” Kapatid spokesperson Fides Lim said in a statement.
Salem and Esparago were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives after their arrest at their respective homes on International Human Rights Day last Dec. 10 by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 209 subsequently issued on Feb. 5 an order which dismissed the charges against the two accused and ordered their release from detention.