In recent weeks, courts successively dismissed fabricated cases against 18 political prisoners. Seven of them have already been released. These prove that the cases they faced were fabricated and baseless. These cases aimed only to harass and keep them imprisoned for long.

On August 14, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Renante Gamara, and worker-activists Diony Borre and Raul Razo were released. They were acquitted along with two others—NDFP consultant Tirso Alcantara and peasant organizer Dionisio Almonte—in cases of kidnapping with murder and attempted murder. They were accused of involvement in the kidnapping and killing of a soldier and the attempted killing of a “former rebel” in Mauban, Quezon in May 2007.

Also on August 14, former UP Student Regent Desiree Jaranilla-Patun-og and peasant organizer Maria Theresa Buscayno were released following the court’s dismissal of the illegal possession of firearms and explosives case filed against them and against Andres Ely and Oliver Millo. They are known as the Mexico 4. The case was dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence. Millo and Ely remain detained for other charges still pending in Nueva Ecija and Zambales courts.

On August 6, a Taguig City court dismissed the case of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition against five political prisoners known as Santa Cruz 5. The five include NDFP consultant Adelberto Silva, Ireneo Atadero, Hedda Calderon, Edisel Legaspi, and Julio Lusiana. According to the court, the evidence was insufficient and the method of obtaining such “evidence” was dubious. Atadero and Lusiana have been released, while Calderon posted bail in June 2019. Silva and Legaspi remain imprisoned for other murder charges.

Also on August 6, a court in Don Carlos, Bukidnon issued a decision for the “provisional dismissal” of attempted murder and murder charges against Charisse “Chaba” Bañez and Arjie Dadizon, two of the Agusan 6. The case was linked to an alleged encounter between the NPA and the military in 2022. A “provisional dismissal” in the attempted homicide case against Louvaine Espina in Davao Oriental was also reported this month. Apart from Bañez, Dadizon, and Espina, the Agusan 6 includes Ronnie Igloria, Larry Montero, and Grace “Nik-nik” Man-aning. They were traveling on June 13 from Monkayo in Davao De Oro when their vehicle was stopped at a checkpoint and they were arrested.

On August 4, a Cagayan court dismissed charges of attempted murder against Myrna Cruz-Abraham. Authorities arrested Abraham on January 27 while she was with her family in a mall in San Miguel, Bulacan. She was released on bail a week later.

In a resolution on May 29, the Department of Justice dismissed the “terrorism financing” case state forces filed against Myrna Zapanta. Zapanta is a church worker and an advocate of peasants’ rights. The allegation that she funded the NPA had no sufficient evidence.

Political prisoners also won victory with the removal of abusive Tacloban City Jail warden J/Insp Eva Naputo on August 16. Altermidya Network and other groups filed complaints against Naputo for her abuses against prisoners, especially those dubbed as the Tacloban 5, which include journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and church worker Marielle Domequil.

Amid these legal victories, the call continues for the release of more than 700 political prisoners nationwide who suffer extremely prolonged detention from the slow proceedings in the reactionary courts and the delaying tactics of the Marcos regime and its armed forces.