JAMBY LOOKS INTO TAGAYTAY 5s PREDICAMENT
BERATES GOVT ANEW ON HUMAN RIGHTS REPRESSION

As a Senator and Human Rights Advocate, I am personally visiting today Axel Alejandro Pinpin, Aristedes Sarmiento and Riel Custodio, Enrico Ybanez and Michael Masayes, collectively known as the Tagaytay 5 in Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba, Laguna.

The Tagaytay 5 and their families have written and asked me to visit them in their detention. I was deeply bothered and shocked by their tales of abuses in the hands of their so-called abductors. More than 100 days have passed since they were abducted, and yet they continue to be deprived their basic rights under detention.

This incident involving the Tagaytay 5 is reminiscent of the dark days of the Marcos Regime, where perceived opponents of the government are being abducted, tortured and charged belatedly in court. This policy of repression of human rights of the Arroyo Regime cannot be tolerated. As accused persons, the Tagaytay 5 are presumed innocent until they are proven guilty. They are still entitled to regular visitation by their families and lawyers.

I intend to bring to the attention of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations this case. Ang karapatang tao ay hindi kailanman dapat ibasura. Hindi natin dapat tignan ang idelohiya ng isang tao upang tanggalan siya ng karapatang pangtao.