PHM-Exch> Media Release: Freedom of the Morong 43 is fruit of the people’s struggle

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: CHD ManCom <chdmancom at gmail.com>

*Media Release*

December 17, 2010


*
*

**

*Freedom of the Morong 43 is fruit of the people’s struggle*


**

They braved indefinable forms of human rights violations so that they may
live to see the day when they will finally be reunited with their families
and people they serve.  The Morong 43 are finally free!


Today, ten months of roaring cries for freedom and justice voiced in
different languages from all over the world bears fruit.  Judge Gina Cenit
Escoto, presiding judge of the Morong Regional Trial Court Branch 78 has
finally released a decision late in the afternoon today to withdraw all
cases filed against all of the 43 health workers.


Thirty-eight of the health workers were detained at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig
City since May 1 while five others remained in military custody since their
illegal arrest at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.


Relatives and supporters have been waiting anxiously outside the Morong RTC
since Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima filed for a motion to
withdraw the cases Monday this week.  They “peacefully picketed” outside the
court building since Wednesday.


After the judge released the official decision, court staffs followed by the
Morong 43 relatives and supporters proceeded to Camp Bagong Diwa, a civilian
detention facility, to deliver the hard copy of the order which will
facilitate the release of the detained health workers.


Registered nurse and alliance spokesperson Carlos Montemayor said that the
health workers underwent a mandatory physical check-up by prison doctors for
clearance, a requirement before a detainee is released from the prison
camp’s custody.


Nursing mothers Judielyn Oliveros and Mercy Castro were transported from the
Philippine General Hospital to Camp Bagong Diwa with their newborns to
undergo prison protocols before they too are finally released.


>From Taguig, the health workers will proceed to Quezon City for a press
conference to thank all the people, including the media for “keeping the
faith” and not giving up on their case.  Montemayor said that the Morong 43
“took strength and refuge” in the massive local and international support
this campaign gained since day one adding the struggle to free the 43 is
within the overall struggle to free all political prisoners.


“Definitely, this is not the end of their story.  The international movement
on the campaign for health and human rights welcomes the additional 43
people with burning fervor and inspiration,” Montemayor added. ##
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://phm.phmovement.org/pipermail/phm-exchange-phmovement.org/attachments/20101217/2b9760e2/attachment.html>