39 political prisoners ordered released

Thirty-nine political prisoners were ordered released by President Arroyo, with only four of them granted pardon, Justice Secretary Hernando Perez reported the other day.

Six of the alleged political offenders who were "released on bail" were suspects in the December 1997 killing of Paul, 31, and Michael Quintos, 27, sons of former Mindoro Rep. Ricardo Quintos.

Released on bail into the custody of their lawyers were Quintos slay suspects Josue Ungsod, Ruben Balaguer, Eduardo Hermoso, Manuel Matricio, Mario Tobias and Gelito Bautista.

"We have reviewed the cases and found that there is reasonable ground to believe that the crime for which they were being held in detention were committed in the pursuit of their political beliefs," Perez wrote the President.

Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, spokesman for the New People’s Army’s Melito Glor Command, had owned up to the killings in January 1998. He said the Quintoses should be made to pay for the crimes they committed against innocent farmers, citing "numerous injustices" to them.

The suspects allegedly barged into the house of Nick Tejada, where the victims had attended a birthday party. The assailants, brandishing automatic firearms, shot the Quintos brothers in the head.

Fourteen other suspects were also said to be around the house of Tejada and acted as lookouts. Former Mindanao congressman Quintos said the slaying was politically motivated and that his nemesis, ex-Mindoro Rep. Jose Villarosa, was behind it.

Among those granted pardon were Francisco del Castillo, Roger Hintapa, Andres Peñaflorida, and Robert Belicario.

Those released on bail were Charito Rioflorida, Andrei Rodriguez, Eduardo Antonio, James Boniola, Alfonso Ybañez, Francisco Gaytano, Nito Banga, Joven Velasco, Rafael Llantino, Dominador and Edwin Pancho;

Darwin Rodas, Roberto Encinares, Salvador Balde, Allan Llames, Alex Perdiguerra, Ronelo Canonigo, Michael Bardallon, Gloria Pabillon, Rey Montecillo, Mario Malloy-on, Cerelo Berog, Julio Villanueva;

Rowena Maglente, Pedro Madera Jr., Ricardo Solangon, Ali Samad alias SPO3 Hadji Ali Aguiao Samad, Nestor Solaiman Boton and Linda Lague.

Perez, along with Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Interior Secretary Jose Lina and Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, recommended the release of the political prisoners to Mrs. Arroyo.

The granting of the pardon and release on bail or recognizance of the political prisoners were done in coordination with non-government organizations like Karapatan, women’s group Gabriela and the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines.