MANILA, Philippines — A group representing the families of political prisoners in the Philippines urged the exigent release of Jesus Alegre, a 75-year-old political prisoner from Negros Occidental who is critically ill at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. The group's latest call comes after the deaths of two political prisoners—Joseph Canlas, 59, and Maximo Redota, 68—within three days in just the month of May. Citing medical abstracts from the NBP's medical officer Raquel Manalastas, the group said that has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes mellitus. Kapatid already lost its earlier case for temporary release under humanitarian grounds before the High Court. Not tomorrow, not according to circumstances, but now because the impact of the pandemic is worst in congested prisons,” the group said.

Source: Philippine Star June 13, 2021 03:11 UTC