Relatives, friends, and human rights defenders launched on December 19 a campaign to support 74-year-old ailing political prisoner Tomas Dominado Jr. They gathered in Lapaz, Iloilo City to launch “Freedom and Care for Tomas Dominado Jr: Defend Human Rights.”

The campaign aims to secure justice, medical care, and freedom for Dominado and other political prisoners. Dominado was arrested on December 5 in Barangay Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo City on charges of murder and rebellion, which has been filed in court a decade ago.

Dominado, elderly and sick, suffered a stroke last year which left him immobile, required a caregiver and wheelchair. He suffers from hypertension, heart enlargement, neurological deficits, and other serious medical conditions, and his imprisonment will worsen his condition.

“He needs immediate medical intervention that cannot be adequately provided in detention facilities,” according to Panay Alliance Karapatan’s earlier statement. They also assert that his arrest is part of an ongoing harassment campaign against government critics. Veteran activist Dominado is the husband of the disappeared Ma. Luisa Posa-Dominado.

Dominado’s family said many joined their previous campaign to release Ma. Luisa Posa-Dominado, who was arrested several times in the 1980s, and the call to surface Posa-Dominado and Nilo Arado in April 2007. “We trust that you will join us again in the fight for our father’s release,” his children said in a statement.

Apart from calling for Dominado’s freedom, groups will also strive to inform more Filipinos about the state repression against human rights defenders like him.

Dominado’s caregiver was also arrested, allegedly having found firearms and ammunition, leading to charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. He was also charged with “terrorism” or violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act for allegedly providing material support to a terrorist organization, and charges of harboring the main accused and obstruction of justice.