Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) on Thursday, February 15, condemned the arrest of the wife of a political prisoner at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in San Carlos City for alleged illegal possession of a firearm, calling it part of the “tanim baril (gun planting)” modus operandi.
HRAN slammed the arrest of Pertinisa Charito, a farmer and wife of political prisoner Leon Charito, for allegedly carrying a small pistol inside the jail facility.
Pertinisa is a member of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) and KAPATID (families and friends of political detainees). The incident is a modus operandi to harass the families of political prisoners in the country, HRAN claimed.
Her husband, Leon, who is in jail is facing illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges filed against him in 2019.
HRAN said Pertinisa was one of those who submitted cases to Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, last month in Cebu City.
As of press time, DIGICAST NEGROS, tried but failed to reach the San Carlos City police for a statement.*