Free new mother, child as Christmas gift, PNoy urged

MANILA, Philippines - The female political prisoners at the Taguig City Jail (TCJ) on Monday called on President Benigno Aquino III to free their fellow inmate Maria Miradel Torres and her new born baby as an early Christmas gift.

"Sa kaso ni Maria Miradel Torres at ng kanyang sanggol na naging bilanggong politikal na din mula pa sa sinapupunan hanggang nitong unang mga araw niya sa mundo; mahigpit naming hinihiling sa Pangulong Aquino na ibigay na sana niya sa mag-ina, bilang maagang pamasko ang agad nilang paglaya," the female inmates said in a statement. 

The statement was signed by peace consultant for the National Democratic Front of the Philippine (NDFP) Ma. Loida Magpatoc and co-signed by Rhea Pareja, Marissa Espedido, Pastora Latagan, Miguela Peniero, Evelyn Legaspi, Gemma Carag and Andrea Rosal. Rosal gave birth last May, 2014 to a baby girl who died two days after.

Torres, a political prisoner at the TCJ, gave birth last November 29 to a baby boy at the Philippine General Hospital. She was on doctor's order for total bed rest due to her delicate pregnancy when arrested last June 20, 2014 in Lucena, Quezon province for murder charges.

"The right of  Maria Miradel Torres as a mother and her newborn’s right are interrelated and cannot be considered separate issues. It is her right and obligation as a mother to be with her child, while her child has the right to stay with her mother and be given proper care and love,"  the statement said.

The female political prisoners also scored the special treatment given by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to Janet Lim Napoles and lawyers Gigi Reyes who have their own rooms at the ground floor of the TCJ. Their rooms are adjacent to that of the warden’s office. 

Napoles is the alleged brains behind the P10 billion pork barrel scam while Reyes is her co accused in the plunder and graft cases before the Sandiganbayan.

"Habang nagtitiis si Miradel kasama ang mga female inmates, kabaliktaran naman ang sitwasyon nina Janet Lim Napoles at Gigi Reyes na parehong may kasong pagnanakaw sa kabang yaman ng bayan. Binibigay ng DILG at BJMP sa kanila ang espesyal na pangangalaga, komportable at maalwan na sitwasyon sa kanilang sariling mga kwarto na nasa ground floor lamang ng gusaling Taguig City Jail," the female political inmates said.

"The prisoners at the Female Dormitory of Taguig City Jail witnessed the ordeals of Miradel. The rotten jail situation is not fit for a pregnant mother, especially because she had a delicate pregnancy. She was in a congested, noisy, and hot dorm at the 4th floor of the TCJ," they said.