Free the 43 Health Workers and all Political Prisoners , Aquino told

On their fourth month of detention, kin and supporters of the Morong 43 gather at Camp Bagong Diwa to reiterate their demand for justice for the 43 illegally detained health workers and call on incoming president Aquino to release them.

Dr. Julie Caguiat, spokesperson of the FREE THE 43 HEALTHWORKERS ALLIANCE said” releasing the Morong 43 and all political prisoners is the perfect opportunity to show president-elect Aquino to show his commitment on human rights. This is a chance to depart from the Arroyos atrocious and brutal regime.”
“On how Aquino will act on the Morong 43 will surely be a litmus test on his administration’s policy on human rights”, said Caguiat.
We hope that president-elect Aquino will be true to his pledge before the EU diplomatic community that he will seek justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings and we expect more of him to uphold and protect the rights of every citizen of this country to whom he owes his mandate.

At present, the group is awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on matters concerning the appeal on the petition for writ of habeas corpus. The group also is looking forward to the next investigation/hearing to be called by the Commission on Human Rights on the case filed by the detainees and their relatives on human rights violations by the AFP and PNP.

The issue of the Morong 43 has attracted a massive local and international support. As of the moment a delegation of human rights advocates have presented the case before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Apart from the this plea, Caguiat said that the release of Morong 43 can only be meaningful if human rights violations of the Arroyo administration and its cohorts are made accountable.

“We fervently hope that the Aquino administration takes as an urgent matter the case of the Morong 43 in its assumption of office,” Dr. Caguiat concluded.

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Dr. Julie Caguiat