Free all political prisoners, jail the corrupt!
KARAPATAN Public Information
PRESS RELEASE
December 3, 2025
References: Maria Sol Taule, KARAPATAN deputy secretary general, 09452966916
Adora Faye de Vera, SELDA spokesperson
KARAPATAN Public Information Desk, 0918-9790580
Free all political prisoners, jail the corrupt!
On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, KARAPATAN and the Samahan ng nga Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), an organization of former political prisoners, renewed their demands for the release of all political prisoners.
In a protest action at the Department of Justice (DOJ), KARAPATAN deputy secretary general Maria Sol Taule assailed the stark contrast where the country's most corrupt and fascist officials remain free while activists, dissenters and even ordinary citizens are jailed for defending people's rights and denouncing corruption.
"There are currently 697 political prisoners being held in various places of detention nationwide," said SELDA spokesperson Adora Faye de Vera, "including 93 who are elderly and 89 who are seriously ill. Most political prisoners are peasant and labor organizers, human rights defenders, development workers and even ordinary citizens slapped by the DOJ with trumped-up criminal cases on mere suspicion of supporting the revolutionary movement," she added.
"Laws like the Anti-Terror Act and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act have also been increasingly weaponized by the DOJ as instruments of repression against dissenters." According to KARAPATAN, at least 30 of those charged with violating these twin terror laws are behind bars.
"There is rank injustice in targeting those who fight corruption and advance human rights," said Taule, "but turning a blind eye to the biggest plunderers and fascists like Marcos Jr. and his ilk."
Political prisoners nationwide are marking this day of solidarity with various activities. At the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ), both political prisoners and regular detainees are holding a protest fast while at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), political prisoners are tying ribbons around the compound and giving away bookmarks to visitors with calls to free all political prisoners. The protest fast at the NODJ is being held amid mounting repression from the jail warden, JSupt. Crisyrel Awe, whose dismissal the detainees have been seeking.
KARAPATAN and SELDA pledged their full support for such initiatives by the country's political prisoners. They vowed to continue the campaign to free all political prisoners, stop the criminalization of dissent and mete justice on all corrupt officials and human rights violators.
*On the protest fasting of political prisoners and “persons deprived of liberty” in Negros Occidental District Jail: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17pJ77BAX1/
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publi...@karapatan.org
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KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.
KARAPATAN Public Information
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publi...@karapatan.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.