Nearly seven years after their arrest, a court in Taguig City acquitted five political prisoners known as the Sta. Cruz 5 on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The court decided in favor of the detainees on August 6.
The five are National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Adelberto Silva, 78; unionist Ireneo Atadero, 62; women’s rights defender Hedda Calderon, 70; farmer Edisel Legaspi, 67; and driver Julio Lusiana, 58. The detainees suffer from conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, gout, and heart disease because of old age and prolonged detention.
Police arrested the five at a checkpoint in Barangay Pagsawitan, Sta. Cruz, Laguna on October 15, 2018. Police and military claimed that they confiscated firearms and grenades from their vehicle.
The court acquitted the five for lack of sufficient evidence and questionable police procedure in obtaining “evidence” against them. State forces commonly use this tactic to file criminal charges that intend to prolong incarceration.
The court’s decision will allow release for Atadero and Lusiana, while Calderon was already granted bail in June 2019. Silva and Legaspi remain in detention at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, as they face a murder case.
“We are glad that the court was able to see through the lies and inconsistencies of the prosecution witnesses’ testimonies,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said. She stated that the Sta. Cruz 5 are among nearly 300 political prisoners currently detained for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
“We hope that the other bogus illegal possession charges some of them face are also dismissed so there could be an end to their unjust detention,” Palabay said.
