Andrea Rosal, center, speaks to the media after her release. (Photo by Vincent Go)
A political prisoner released on Sept. 7 after 18 months in detention has praised the Philippine Church for its support and its role in winning her freedom.
"I would have not made it if [Church people] were not there to support me," said Andrea Rosal, who was accused of being a communist rebel and arrested by the military on murder and kidnapping charges in Manila in March 2014.
Rosal was seven months pregnant at the time of her arrest. She gave birth to a baby girl while in detention. The baby died shortly after.
"The first thing I will do is visit the grave of my daughter," Rosal told ucanews.com the day after her release.
A court in Quezon province ordered Rosal’s release after declaring all the charges against her false.
Rosal expressed her gratitude to rights activists, friends and "especially the Church that really raised its voice for my freedom".
"They are the ones who really strengthened my resolve to be strong while in detention," she said. "Without them I could not have survived," Rosal added.
In May 2014, the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life of the Catholic bishops' conference appealed to the government to allow Rosal to attend the funeral of her baby.
"She was already deprived of her basic human and maternal right to receive appropriate medical care during her pregnancy. Let us not deprive her of her right to bury her dead," said Father Melvin Castro, head of the commission said at the time.
Rights groups blamed prison authorities for the death of Rosal's baby, citing "unreasonable delays" in bringing the mother to the hospital.
Rosal said Church people and rights activists became her "inspiration" while she was in detention.
"I hope that they will continue supporting other political prisoners who are suffering for crimes they have not done," she said.
Political prisoners
Edre Olalia, Rosal's lawyer, said the Church "came in very strong" to support the case of Rosal.
"They've seen the misery and the agony of Andrea and her baby daughter," said Olalia of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers.
The lawyer expressed hope that the Church will continue to "renew and reinvigorate its correct call" for the release of prisoners of conscience.
Olalia said political prisoners are in jail "not because they are criminals but because of their beliefs".
He said many of the prisoners are old and are suffering very serious ailments.
According to rights group Karapatan, there are 537 documented political prisoners in the Philippines.
Most, like Rosal, are accused of being members of the communist New People’s Army rebel group. Rosal is the daughter of the late Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, the former spokesman of the New People's Army.
Meanwhile, the Philippine military said the release of Rosal is proof that "democracy works in the country".
Military spokesman Col. Noel Detoyato warned Rosal that if she commits a crime "one day or another, expect that the long arm of the law will get you".
Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay, however, said the case of Rosal "proves that political prisoners are illegally detained and should be immediately released because the charges filed against them are fabricated".
Palabay reiterated calls to release all political prisoners, especially the ailing and elderly. She said there are currently 53 ailing and 42 elderly prisoners.
At least three prisoners have died in the last five years due to poor medical attention and inadequate health care facilities in prison.
