Tinay Palabay said the cost of the special treatment accorded these plunderers is charged to the nation’s coffers, depriving further the people of the services due them. “Ninakawan na nga ang mamamayan, tayo pa rin ang sagot sa mga gastusin para pagbigyan ang mga kapritso ng mga mandarambong.” She cited the P120,000 cost of each of Napoles out of detention activity, like court hearings or transfers, aside from their monthly spending of P150,000 for her detention. If the government can spend this much for one prisoner on a single day, they must have the resources to improve the condition of common prisoners, political prisoners included, in different jails, Palabay added. The difference in the treatment is so glaring, we can’t help but compare this with the situation of petty criminals who are poor and are powerless, including the political prisoners. They could not even attend court hearings because jail authorities would often say there are not enough guards to accompany them, or there are no available vehicles to bring them to court hearings, Palabay said. In May, political prisoner Andrea Rosal had to go through a gruelling process, in court and before jail authorities, for her to be brought to the hospital to give birth. Palabay also mentioned the series of postponement of court hearings of the military accused in the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case of missing UP students Sherlyn Cadapan-Karen Empeño. Since September 2013, the military has failed to present its witnesses citing lack of funds for transportation fare of their witnesses.
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 05:44:39 +0000