Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

Relatives of political prisoners and detainees led by Glenda “Jojo” Itaas, the wife of Juanito Itaas convicted for the Col. James Rowe killing in 1989, and the human rights organization Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) appeal for P-Noy to consider the release of their detained loved ones and all political prisoners/detainees in his SONA declaration on July 26, 2010.

In the morning of July 26, the group released hundreds of doves and dozens of balloons with a vertical banner containing their call to free all political prisoners in front of Ever Gotesco in Commonwealth Avenue near Batasan.  “This is to symbolize and express our appeal to President Aquino.  We are hoping that he considers the release of Juanito Itaas and all political prisoners in his SONA declaration,” Jonal Javier, program coordinator of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines said.

Press Release                        
July 22, 2010
Glenda Itaas with son. Photo Rommel Yamzon

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) and 100 strong members of the Free All Political Prisoners/Detainees Campaign Network launch their “White Ribbon for Freedom Campaign” by holding a peaceful and symbolic tying of white ribbons to the barbed wire fences blocking the Mendiola entrance to Malacañang.  They call for President Aquino to release Juanito Itaas and all other political prisoners.

The group accompanies Glenda “Jojo” Itaas and her children to the Office of the President in sending a letter of appeal urging President Benigno Aquino III to use his good will and executive power to release and end the 21 long years of political imprisonment of her husband Juanito Itaas.  He was arrested in 1989 and was convicted for the killing of Col. James Rowe, an American Military Official.

7 political prisoners out of the 8 released. Photo: R. Supan

Eight (8) political prisoners were granted conditional pardon with parole conditions by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.  After more than a decade of political detention and punishment by the state, Orlando Bundalian Jr., Ruperto Lopez Jr., Pedro Madera, Pedro Pascual, Anacleto Mercader, Rogelio Galero, Mariano Reyes and Rodolfo Tubera were released at last this July 8, 2010 from the Maximum Compound of the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa eight days after the former president’s term ended.

The eight (8) were part of the 271 political prisoners and political detainees (Records of TFDP as of June 15, 2010) languishing in jails around the country because of their political beliefs and actions that the state perceived as a threat to its existence. While their release is a welcome development it is just a small token compared to the injustice, violations of human rights and suppression that are bestowed to all our human rights defenders and freedom fighters. Their release reunites them with their wives and children, mothers, fathers, siblings, relatives and friends, who for decades waited and struggled for the attainment of their freedom.