KARAPATAN CALLED FOR the immediate release of 609 political prisoners in the country, especially the elderly and sick. This is to take them away from the congested and vulnerable conditions in prisons during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The call was renewed when United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on governments to release prisoners to decongest jails. Iran, Brazil and other countries responded to this call.

The group also launched the #SetThemFree and #FreePoliticalPrisonersPH campaigns in social media. Earlier, churches including the National Council of Churces of Philippines and the Archdiocese of San Carlos also called for the release of political detainees.

Majority (209) of political prisoners arrested under Duterte are farmers who were accused of being members of the New People’s Army.