Group calls for release of ‘country’s oldest political prisoner’

Political prisoners support group Kapatid on Tuesday trooped to the Supreme Court to call for the promulgation of the Writ of Kalayaan and the release of 83-year-old Gerardo Dela Peña, the oldest political prisoner in the country.

“Ngayon, hinihiling namin sa Supreme Court na pabilisin ang approval at promulgation ng Writ of Kalayaan, i-convene ang technical working groups ulit para mapabilis ang proseso,” Kapatid spokesperson Fides Lim said in an interview.

(Now, we are asking the Supreme Court to speed up the approval and promulgation of the Writ of Kalayaan and convene the technical working groups to speed up the process.)

Kapatid also delivered a letter to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo asking for his “active intercession” for Dela Peña’s release. Lim said they attached a letter from the Board of Pardons and Parole showing that Gerardo’s papers were being held up.

“Ikalawa, hinihiling namin na tulungan kami ng Supreme Court para sa pagpapalaya… ni Gerardo dela Peña, 83 years old at pinakamatandang political prisoner sa buong Pilipinas,” Lim said.

(Second, we are asking the Supreme Court to help us in the release of Gerardo Dela Peña, 83 years old, the oldest political prisoner in the whole country.)

Joining the group was Reina Mae Nasino, an activist who lost her three-month-old daughter while in detention in October 2020. Nasino was released in December 2022.

The group also tied white paper doves with the words “Writ of Kalayaan” on the fence of the SC.

“Sana mabigyan ng pagkakataon ng Supreme Court na makasama nga yung pamilya nila hanggang kaya pa ni Tatay Gerry,” Nasino said.

(I hope the Supreme Court will give Tatay Gerry the chance to be with his family.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News