
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza at a mass for political prisoners on Monday.*
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, co-chair of the One Negros Ecumenical Council (ONEC), on Monday, Dec. 30, called for the immediate release and compassionate parole of political prisoners, particularly the elderly and sick, as part of a broader effort to address systemic injustices in the Philippines.
His statement followed a mass he celebrated for political prisoners and persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Bago City District Jail in Negros Occidental, a press release from ONEC said.
“I deplore the situation of our political prisoners whose hearings are repeatedly postponed or reset, with some languishing in jail for over a year without a single hearing,” Alminaza said.
Alminaza emphasized the urgent need for justice, citing the continued incarceration of 113 political prisoners across Negros Island, which represents 15 percent of the national total. These include 59 detainees in Negros Occidental and 54 in Negros Oriental, many of whom have been accused under questionable charges, he said.
“We cannot ignore the plight of those unjustly incarcerated for their advocacy for farmers, workers, and marginalized communities. Fighting for basic rights is not a crime. Instead of vilifying these individuals, the government must strengthen social services and address the root causes of poverty and inequality,” Alminaza said.
The bishop cited the recent dismissal of charges and release of nine political prisoners in November. Among them were Pastor Jimie Teves and youth organizers Carmen Jonahville Matarlo and John Michael Tecson.
Despite these wins, Alminaza stressed, “There is still so much to be done.”
He also condemned the culture of red-tagging and the false criminalization of activists, which he described as a systematic attack on democracy and human rights.
“Red-tagging and false accusations silence dissent and perpetuate injustice. All democratic sectors must come together to combat these practices and uphold the dignity of every individual,” he said.
Alminaza called for the parole of elderly and ailing political prisoners, some of whom have been in detention for decades.
“This is not just a matter of justice but of compassion,” he said, invoking the words of Isaiah: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.”
Alminaza said he supports the call for a law to be passed to compensate persons who have been jailed and eventually acquitted by the court of CBCP President and Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David during his recent visit to the political prisoners and other persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at the Metro Manila District Jail.
Alminaza’s call aligns with the spirit of the Jubilee Year and Pope Francis’ message of love and mercy during his recent prison visit at the Rebibbia New Complex Prison in Rome, the press release said.*