A regional trial court (RTC) in Mandaluyong City has been asked to release journalist Lady Ann D. Salem and unionist Rodrigo S. Esparago since the charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives filed against them had been dismissed.

“We appeal to the court to carry out the most just and immediate action on Salem and Esparago, and that is to order them released,” said secretary general Cristina Palabay of Karapatan, a human rights group, in a statement.

 “Letting them stay longer inside jail runs counter to the sound decision of the court, and furthers the violations committed against them from the point of their arrest, up to the trumped-up charges filed against them,” she said.

 Palabay issued the statement after the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office opposed the release of Salem and Esparago and asked the  RTC Branch 209 to reverse its ruling dismissing the charges.

“As the continued detention of Salem and Esparago has no basis now that the cases against them were dismissed, there is equally no basis for the prosecution to oppose the release of the two,” Palabay said.

“It only aggravates the fact that since the time of their arrest on December 10, they have been made to suffer the consequences of the continuous crackdown and arrest spree of state forces against individuals, activists, shamelessly using the law that should, in the first place, safeguard the rights of persons and citizens,” she added.

 At the same time, Palabay urged the public to continue opposing the arrest of government critics over trumped-up charges.

 “These elements who are implementing arrest sprees, illegal raids, arrests and filing of trumped-up charges against activists, persons critical of government, and ordinary citizens … should be deplored,” she pointed out.

“We remain hopeful, however, that as we continue to press for their release, and the people demand for justice and accountability amid these challenging times, we will surely overcome,” she added.