A politically detained Bohol cultural worker walked out from jail on December 18 after six years of imprisonment. Alvin “Chai” Fortaliza temporarily gained freedom after posting bail for charges of attempted murder. The court earlier dismissed two murder cases for lack of evidence.

Police arrested him on March 4, 2019 while he was campaigning for Anakpawis Party-list in a market in Guindulman, Bohol. He is also a founder of Bol-anong Artista nga may Diwang Dagohoy (Bansiwag) Bohol Cultural Network in 2010. He served as cultural group Sinagbayan’s second chairperson for Visayas.

Karapatan-Central Visayas welcomed the release of Fortaliza, stressing its long-held stand that his arrest and prolonged imprisonment is unjust. According to the group, the cases filed against Fortaliza were all fabricated and aimed to persecute him for his advocacy for peasant rights in Bohol.

Meanwhile, the group condemned the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) for deliberately delaying Fortaliza’s release from Bohol District Jail on December 17, despite having the complete papers and court order to free Fortaliza by virtue of bail.

Karapatan-Central Visayas said that BJMP officials must be held accountable for and explain the delaying of the legal process.