Release of prisoner sought

A local court has issued the order for the immediate release of a political prisoner detained for more than eleven years for trumped up charges filed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Marilou Runes-Tamang, presiding judge of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98, has ruled that political prisoner Eduardo Serrano is NOT the accused Rogelio Villanueva and must be immediately released.

Serrano, a consultant for the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) for the peace process, was illegally arrested on May 2, 2004 based on warrants against a certain Rogelio Villanueva. 

"As it stands now, we find Serrano not 'judicially charged' under any resolution, information or amended information… He was not also validly arrested as there was no Warrant of Arrest or Alias Warrant against Eduardo Serrano. Clearly, Serrano was not restrained of his liberty under process issued by a court," as Runes-Tamang read the resolution herself.

Serrano still faces criminal charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder at Quezon City RTC Branch 100, multiple frustrated murder at Branch 215 and kidnapping at Branch 97. "We will manifest this order of judge Runes-Tamang to other courts where Serrano faces other charges for the presiding judges can take into consideration in their decision," Atty. Amylyn Sato of Public Interest Law Center (PILC), the legal counsel of Serrano said.

Angge Santos

Media Liaison

Karapatan