NAGHAIN ng petition for habeas corpus sa Court of Appeals noong Abril 17 ang pamilya ni Prudencio Cebu Calubid Jr, 81-anyos, na dinakip batay sa maling arrest warrant at iprinisinta bilang isang National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace talks consultant na kanyang katukayo.
Iginiit ng mga ahente ng estado na siya si Prudencio Calubid, dating NDFP consultant na dinukot ng militar noong 2006.
Isinumite ni Analyn Calubid, anak ni Prudencio Jr. ang petisyon sa tulong ng National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL).
“Despite the evidence, why was he not released? We think it is because of the PhP 7.8 million bounty on the head of the person whose name is similar to my father’s,” sabi ni Analyn sa paskil sa Facebook.
Iginiit sa petsiyon na ang pagbilanggo kay Prudencio Jr ay illegal at sa kabila ng mga ibinigay na mga dokumento at government-issued IDs upang patunayan ang pagkakakilanlan sa sa kanya ay dinakip pa rin siya ng Philippine National Police (PNP) at ng Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) sa kanyang bahay sa Olongapo City.
“The continued detention of Prudencio Jr. is not the result of a mistaken identity; it is a case of deliberate misrepresentation, carried out in disregard of truth and due process,” ayon kay Atty. Julian Agpalo ng NUPL.
Binigyan diin niya na may malinaw na ebidensya ng pagkatao ni Prudencio Jr. at matagal na pagiging residente ng Olongapo na nagpapatunay na hindi siya ang indibidwal na tinukoy sa arrest warrant.
Gumagamit na ng wheelchair si Prudencio Jr at may gout at kidney problems kaya labis na nababahala ang kanyang pamilya.
Iginiit ng human rights group na KARAPATAN ang kagyat na pagpapalaya kay Prudencio Jr.
“State security forces, then and now, have abused their power by abducting individuals and illegally arresting people to gain monetary rewards,” sabi ni KARAPATAN Secretary general Cristina Palabay.
Ang kaso aniya ni Prudencio Jr ay bahagi ng mas malawak na pattern ng mga maling pag-aresti na bunsod ng bounty system ng pamahalaan.
“This is the mercenary character of these fascists in government.This use of the bounty system to arrest civilians in exchange of monetary rewards is a pervasive practice of the police and military,” ayon kay Palabay.
“This practice and policy should stop. We urge the Court of Appeals to grant the petition of the Calubid family. We call on the Marcos Jr government to rescind all orders regarding the rewards system as these violate basic rights and fundamental freedoms of the people,” giit niya. (ROSE NOVENARIO)