“The lives of other prisoners particularly the Mamburao 7 and other political prisoners were put peril by the actions of the Abu Sayyaf’s failed jail break but the actions of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) further put them in harm’s way,” said Ka Willy Marbella, spokeperson of the militant farmers group, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

“These political prisoners have been in jail for more than six years accused of a crime they did not even commit. Mario Tobias, a member of the group also needs to be taken to a hospital because he as a kidney problem and the siege complicated his health condition,” added Marbella.

“When the SAF assaulted the building, the 3rd floor which contained the farmers, burst into flames and we fear that the innocent prisoners may have also been hurt,” said the peasant leader.

“The Mamburao 7 should have been freed as early as 2001 when Pres Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself as well as all the pertinent government agency heads  already signed their release papers but the clout of former Occidental Mindoro Congressman Ricardo Quintos is so strong that they are detained up till now,” added Marbella.

The Mamburao 7, Manolito Matricio, Joshua Ungsod, Orlando Estanes, Mario Tobias, Ruben Balaguer, Gelito Bautista and Eduardo Hermoso,  are members of Samahan ng Magbubukid sa Kanlurang  Mindoro (SAMAKAMI) they were accused by Ricardo Quintos as the killers of his sons Paul and Michael. Even though the killings were owned by the New People’s Army. # # #
 

KMP - 15 March 2005