Dear Sisters,
Warm greetings of solidarity!
Recent data in the Philippines highlights yet another form of human
rights violations that begs our attention and concern -- the issue of
Political Prisoners. This is in the backdrop of the alarming state of
extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the Philippines.
According to reports from KARAPATAN National Alliance for Human Rights,
the number of political prisoners in the country has swelled to about
232, from the first quarter of 2001 to November 2007. GABRIELA, upon
this writing, has listed up to 24 women political prisoners under the
administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In most cases, political
prisoners have experienced abduction, illegal arrest and detention,
inhumane treatment in prison and prolonged incarceration under baseless
accusations and charges by the military.
Such is the case of Angelina "Angie" Bisuña Ipong, now 63 years old, a
peace advocate who devoted her life to the cause of peace and human
rights.
On March 8, 2005, Angie was in a meeting with peace advocates and lay
volunteers when more than ten armed men wearing bonnets and fatigue
shorts abducted her. The men identified themselves as police-CIDG. Upon
abduction she was handcuffed, blindfolded, and then brought to Bulacan
Tabak Division Headquarters, where she was subjected to continuous
interrogation and harassment. For 14 days Angie was in complete
isolation. Upon her unjustified arrest she was further subjected to
violation of the rights of an arrested person, among them unjustified
detention, sexual abuse and torture.
Angie remains incarcerated at the Pagadian City Jail in Zamboanga del
Sur, detained in a small prison cell with 15 other women prisoners
accused of common crimes.
Innocent civilians like Angie and the many other political prisoners
continue to languish in jail despite baseless charges against them
while. She herself has been in jail for two years, eight months and
eighteen days on the basis of trumped-up charges while convicted
criminals like Joseph Estrada and US Corporal Daniel Smith, the US
marine who raped a Filipina, are freed.
Angie remains true to her calling despite her difficult situation.
Angie, the organizer, the teacher has organized her inmates to engage in
productive activities including sewing, planting flowers and organic
vegetables, cooking and selling snacks. Angie's personal endeavor is to
make greeting cards, it keeps her occupied and presents an opportunity
for her to express her ideas and ideals. Families and friends help sell
these cards to spread her thoughts and to help raise funds for her
needs.
Help FREE Angie Ipong. Spread her story, her struggles and her fight for
freedom. Please write letters of appeal on her behalf to the President
of the Philippines, send Angie letters of support. Let us expose her
life in prison. Her story may bring out more cases of human rights
violations in prison.
Should you choose to adopt the campaign please inform GABRIELA through
email --international
relations@gabrielaphilippines.org or
gabwomen@yahoo.com. Your support to the Free Angie Ipong Campaign is a
support to other political prisoners in the country.
Thank you very much!
FREE ANGIE IPONG!
JUSTICE FOR ALL WOMEN POLITICAL PRISONERS!
STOP HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!
For the women,
GABRIELA International Relations Department
