“Many political prisoners with severe illnesses are left to suffer or die in jail without proper medical attention…”
Ito ang pahayag ni House Assistant Minority Leader at Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas matapos niyang igiit na binibigyan ng “special treatment” si Pastor Apollo Quiboloy nang palawigin ang medical furlough nito.
Matatandaang sa isang press briefing nitong Lunes, Nobyembre 11, sinabi ni Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Jean Fajardo na dinala sa ospital si Quiboloy noong Nobyembre 8 matapos umano itong makaranas ng “chest discomfort.”
“Lumabas po sa medical examination na kinonduct po ng health service ay meron po siyang irregular heartbeat that may be considered as life threatening,” ani Fajardo.
Agusan del Sur, nilindol ng magnitude 5.3
Nitong Lunes na rin daw sana ibabalik sa PNP custodial center ang pastor ngunit pinalawig ng Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) ang pamamalagi niya sa ospital hanggang sa Nobyembre 16 upang makumpleto umano ang medical examinations na kakailanganin para sa kaniyang kondisyon.
MAKI-BALITA: Apollo Quiboloy, dinala sa ospital dahil sa ‘irregular heartbeat’ – PNP
Kaugnay nito, sa isang pahayag nito ring Lunes ay sinabi ni Brosas na maituturing na “selective justice” ang ibinigay na pagpapalawig ng medical furlough ni Quiboloy.
"This is a clear display of double standards in our justice system. While Quiboloy, who faces grave charges of sexual abuse of minors, easily gets medical furlough extensions, many political prisoners with severe illnesses are left to suffer or die in jail without proper medical attention," ani Brosas.
Binanggit din ng mambabatas na maraming political prisoners na hindi pinagkalooban ng humanitarian considerations sa kabila ng kanilang medical conditions, tulad ng 75-anyos na si Jesus Alegre mula Negros Occidental na pumanaw noong 2021 matapos magkasakit habang nasa selda sa New Bilibid Prison.
"We have witnessed how political prisoners like Jesus Alegre died in detention after being denied proper medical care. This selective application of compassionate considerations is deeply disturbing."
Samantala, iginiit ni Brosas na hindi dapat payagan ang mga makapangyarihang manipulahin ang justice system habang patuloy raw na nagdurusa ang mga biktima.
“Hindi ako magugulat kung sa susunod ay nakasuot na siya (Quiboloy) ng neck brace. We cannot allow the powerful to manipulate our justice system while victims continue to suffer,” aniya.
"We demand equal treatment before the law. If medical furloughs can be readily granted to powerful personalities like Quiboloy, the same consideration should be extended to political prisoners who are seriously ill. The justice system should not bow down to privilege and power," saad pa ni Brosas.
