The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has assured assistance for the immediate release, on humanitarian grounds, of Gerardo dela Peña, who, at 84 years old, is considered the oldest person deprived of liberty (PDL) in the country.
Fides Lim, spokesperson of Kapatid – a support group for political prisoners – said the assurance was given during her meeting with BuCor officials last Tuesday, June 13.
Lim said that during the meeting, BuCor committed to help “speed up the humanitarian release of the country’s oldest political prisoner, 84-year-old Lolo Gerardo, before he becomes completely blind and demented and dies in prison.”
She said the meeting was attended by BuCor Officer-In-Charge Deputy Director General Angelina L. Bautista and representatives of the Board of Pardons of Parole (BPP).
She added that during the meeting Bautista told the BPP representatives that “being beyond 70 years old and sickly are already the principal bases for humanitarian release.”
Dela Pena, Lim said, was arrested in Camarines Norte on March 21, 2013, and was convicted “based on a trumped up murder charges.”
She said the Kapatid, in behalf of Dela Pena, has filed a petition with the Supreme Court for a Writ of Kalayaan.
She also said that she discussed with BuCor officials the systematic and expeditious processing of overstaying political prisoners for release; rehabilitation and repair of the building at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City where political prisoners are housed; halting the degrading strip search and cavity search of visiting families and friends of political prisoners; and provision of legal and health support.