Another political prisoner has passed last Monday, the 11th prisoner of conscience dying in detention under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government.
Sonny Tambalque, 65 years-old, died at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) of primary tuberculosis human rights group said was brought about by his long imprisonment and poor conditions in Philippine jails.
Tambalque’s daughter Karah grieved at her father’s passing, saying: “Amma, after 18 years, ngayon lang ulit namin Ikaw nakasama. Pero sa ganitong paraan pa.”
A peasant organizer in his home province of Nueva Ecija, Tambalque was first arrested for his activism in July 1994.
He was rearrested on kidnapping with homicide charges on May 2006.
Karapatan-Central Luzon said that like hundreds of other political prisoners in the Philippines, Tambalque languished in jail over trumped up charges and planted evidence.
“More have died waiting in vain for justice to finally arrived,” the group said in a statement.
Of the 11 political prisoners who have died under the Marcos Jr. government, nine were at least 60 years old. The oldest was 75 years old.
Aside from Tambalque, Karapatan said, the following died in detention under Marcos Jr.:
- Arsenio Guelas, 68, Sorsogon Provincial, September 13, 2023;
- Cristina Garcia Miguel, 66, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Tuguegarao City, November 20, 2023;
- Marcos Villareal, 55, Tinangis Penal Farm, December 3, 2023;
- Roy Aguilar Dela Cruz, 46, Malolos City Jail, January 27, 2024;
- Generoso Gozo Granado Jr., 67, NBP, March 7, 2024;
- Proceso Torralba, 74, Butuan City Jail, January 31, 2024;
- Antonio Legaspi, 75, San Jose Del Monte City BJMP, April 19, 2024;
- Ernesto Jude Rimando, 60, MMDJ4-Camp Bagong Diwa July 23, 2024;
- Hilario de Roxas, 61, NBP, December 25, 2024 ; and
- Benedicto Faustor, 67, Leyte Regional Prison, January 28, 2025.
Karapatan said there are 745 political prisoners in the country, 106 of whom are elderly while 100 are suffering from grave illnesses. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
