RP refuse to free comunist rebels during Pope's visit
RP refuse to free comunist rebels during Pope's visit
MANILA (Agencies): The Philippines yesterday rejected demands
that 59 communist rebels serving jail terms for criminal offenses
be freed before Pope John Paul II visits the country this week.
Justice Secretary Franklin Drilon said the detainees, held at
the National Penitentiary in Manila, should go through the normal
process by applying for amnesty.
The detainees and their supporters have taken advantage of the
Pope's Jan. 12-16 trip by holding a hunger strike to draw
attention to their demands to be freed. The hunger strike began
Jan. 3 and supporters of the group said they would hold
demonstrations in the hope of getting the Pontiff to intervene
for their freedom.
"The hunger strike can be resolved if only these 59 detainees
will apply for amnesty under existing laws," said Drilon.
Leftist groups contend there are over 200 "political
prisoners" around the country in addition to the 59 communist
rebels held in the capital. The government rejects their claims,
saying the prisoners are serving terms for common crimes like
murder, illegal arms possession and arson.
The exiled head of the underground Communist Party of the
Philippines, Jose Maria Sison, and his spokesman in the country,
Gregorio Rosal, have declared their support for the detainees,
who include two men convicted of killing U.S. military adviser
Col. James Rowe in 1989.
Washington has opposed amnesty for the two, saying they were
considered international terrorists for killing an American
diplomat.
The prison director, Vicente Vinarao, said in a report to
Drilon that all hunger-strikers were "taking vitamins and water"
and that their lives were not in danger. A prison doctor was
monitoring their protest, he added.
Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin said that "the Holy
Father's heart will go to them," but ruled out a papal visit to
the prison, saying the pontiff's had no time on his schedule.
Meanwhile the Roman Catholic bishop of East Timor said here
yesterday that he would ask for blessings for the people of the
former Portuguese colony if given a chance to talk to Pope John
Paul during the pontiff's visit.
Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo is in Manila to attend a meeting of
about 200 Asian bishops which will coincide with the Pope's visit
from tomorrow to next Monday. The bishops' meeting opens today
and runs until Jan. 19.
"I will only ask for blessings for the people of East Timor,"
Belo said when asked if he would raise the issue of East Timor
with the pope.
Meanwhile, organizers said yesterday almost 7,000 young people
from 33 countries including members of the state-sponsored
Catholic church in China have arrived in the Philippines to meet
the Pope on World Youth Day.
A total of over 9,000 foreign delegates, plus at least 23,000
Filipino youths are expected to attend Sunday's event, said Gina
Paraoan of the World Youth Day secretariat.
The delegates will participate in the 10th World Youth Day
activities which began yesterday . The Pope is expected to meet
the young people over the weekend.
Most of the foreign delegates are hosted by Roman Catholic
schools here. A tent city has also sprouted in front of city hall
for Filipino delegates. They are scheduled to attend an open-air
mass to be celebrated by Manila archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin
yesterday.
In another development, more than 50,000 young Filipinos have
signed a covenant to be presented to the Pope pledging chastity
until the day of their marriage, Sin said yesterday.