Church leaders urged to back release of political inmates

From UCA News (Mar 8): Church leaders urged to back release of political inmates

Prisoners receive unjust treatment while in jail, activist says

A Philippine political prisoner has urged church leaders visit him and others in jail to back their bid to free all political inmates in the Philippines, citing the unjust treatment they receive in detention.

"A united message of the political prisoners to the visiting church people was for them to join the calls for the release of all political prisoners in the country," said Alan Jazmines, a member of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Peace Panel's Socio-Economic Reforms Committee.

He said detained NDFP peace consultants like him have been imploring the administration, both past and present, for the release of more than 500 political prisoners nationwide.

"To the visiting church people and others, in the country and abroad, dedicated to the pursuit of respect for human rights, social justice, lasting peace, and substantive progress in the country, the detained NDFP peace consultants and other political prisoners expressed their call for solidarity and support in the efforts toward these goals," he said.

http://www.ucanews.com/news/church-leaders-urged-to-back-release-of-political-inmates/75416