Karapatan and the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) announced the release of 81-year-old Prudencio Calubid Jr (Tay Pruding) on June 27 after six months of detention. They called for justice and are seriously considering filing counter-charges against those responsible for the arrest and detention of the victim.
The victim gained his freedom after the Court of Appeals 16th Division decided in favor of the habeas corpus petition filed by Tay Pruding’s daughter, Analyn Calubid, with the assistance of the NUPL in April.
Police wrongfully arrested Tay Pruding on December 7, 2024, in Barangay Gordon Heights, Olongapo City. The police claimed he was the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Prudencio Calubid. The real Calubid was abducted by the Arroyo regime and forcibly disappeared in 2006.
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) arrested Tay Pruding under “Oplan Pagtugis” and “Oplan Salikop.” They reportedly spent a month on surveillance and intelligence work to capture the elderly man.
Calubid allegedly faced charges of robbery with double homicide, damage to property, and 15 counts of murder. Authorities placed a bounty of ₱7.8 million on Calubid’s head.
Karapatan stated that while Tay Pruding was in detention, police repeatedly forced him to admit he was the Calubid they were looking for. This continued despite numerous pieces of evidence and identification documents proving Tay Pruding’s identity.
The court decision stated that Tay Pruding’s lawyers presented clear evidence proving his identity, distinct from the person accused in the case. The court also noted the PNP-CIDG’s failure to properly verify the identity of the person they arrested.
“We are relieved that Tay Pruding is finally free,” Karapatan deputy secretary general Atty. Maria Sol Taule said. Atty. Taule said Manila City Jail officials almost prevented Tay Pruding’s release because another warrant arrived against him. The Court of Appeals clearly stated that Tay Pruding was not the person the police were seeking, according to the lawyer.
Atty. Taule emphasized that Tay Pruding should never have been arrested and detained in the first place. “He is among the victims of a bounty system that has victimized countless others,” the lawyer added. Atty. Taule also called for the release of more than 700 other political prisoners like Tay Pruding who are being detained without basis.
Amid injustice and six months of suffering in jail, Karapatan and NUPL said that Tay Pruding has the right to file counter-charges against state forces. According to NUPL’s statement, they are seriously studying the possibility of filing a case.
“The law cannot allow six months of unlawful incarceration and the irreparable harm it caused [to the victim] to pass without consequence,” the NUPL stated. The lawyers’ group stressed that this must not be normalized.
The group said state forces and agencies, especially those who enabled, carried out, or benefited from these grave human rights violations, must be held accountable.
