Another political prisoner died inside the National Bilibid Prison due to a lingering ailment.

According to the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda) and Hustisya, Benny Barid, detained at the Maximum Security Compound of the NBP, passed away last September 18. Barid had stayed for three years as a patient at the NBP Hospital, suffering from chronic asthmatic bronchitis with emphysema.

The group said that Barid could not stand up alone, and needed to be put in a wheelchair to move from one place to another. His fellow political prisoners were the ones who looked for means to acquire needed medicines.

Barid was a political detainee during the Marcos dictatorship but was granted amnesty by former Pres. Corazon Aquino. In 2004, he was again arrested for subversion and illegal possession of firearms, but the case was dismissed.

Again in 2005, the military detained him for almost two months, when they searched his house and allegedly found firearms in his possession. Barid was again arrested in July 2006 and was accused was accused of involvement in a massacre which happened in 2004. This time, Barid’s child was allegedly hostaged by the military to force him to surrender, according to Guevarra.

“He was a victim of trumped-up charges four times, the last of which he was sentenced to three counts of lifetime imprisonment in the NBP Maximum Security Compound,” said Guevarra.

In a separate statement, Barid’s fellow political prisoners at the NBP mourned the death of their cellmate and demanded justice.

“Halos tatlong taon siyang nakaratay sa NBP Hospital sa labis na panghihina dahil sa kanyang karamdaman na kanyang ikinamatay. Nagpapaabot po kaming mga bilanggong pulitikal sa pamilya at kaanak ni Barid ng aming lubos na pakikiramay. Salik ang malaking kakulangan sa sapat at maayos na serbisyong pang-piitan sa mahirap na pinagdaanan ni Barid. Gayundin, nawalan na ng pag-asa si Barid dahil sa kawalan ng kongkretong hakbang ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas upang tugunan ang makatarungang pagpapalaya sa lahat ng bilanggong pulitikal. Tuloy ang laban para sa kalayaan!” said the NBP political prisoners in a statement.

Meanwhile, Selda dared President Aquino to immediately release ailing political prisoners on September 21, the 42nd year commemoration of martial law, saying that after martial rule, the Philippines continues to have political prisoners.

The group alleged that the rights of political prisoners were repeatedly violated as they are being slapped with trumped-up criminal charges , arbitrarily arrested and illegally detained.

“Many of them are tortured and denied their right to counsel and due process. They suffer inhumane prison conditions and prolonged imprisonment, and snail-paced judicial process. We dare President Aquino to immediately release ailing political prisoners on humanitarian grounds,” said Jigs Clamor, Selda spokesperson.

The group also added that poor and inadequate health services that the government provides endanger the lives of vulnerable sick and elderly political prisoners. According to Selda, out of the 504 political prisoners in the country under the Aquino government, 53 are suffering from various illnesses.

“The meager budget allotted to prison inmates makes jails and detention facilities barely habitable, unsafe and hazardous to the health and general well-being of prisoners. Keeping the sick and elderly political prisoners longer in prison leads to serious health complications that could be life-threatening,” added Clamor.

Exactly a year ago, Alison Alcantara, 55, and also a political prisoner at the NBP, died of pneumonia, sepsis and fatal arrhythmia. Rights groups said that Alcantara was only brought to the Philippine General Hospital after he fell into a coma at the NBP Hospital.

“How many more ailing political prisoners will suffer from the dire and subhuman conditions inside different detention centers in the country? How many more after Alison Alcantara and Benny Barid? We hold the Aquino government accountable for the death of Benny Barid. His death is the face of martial law in our country today,” said Guevarra.