Two National Artists sign petition for Ericson Acosta's immediate release
Ericson Acosta has spent more than 6 months in detention without a proper court case filed against him. The Amnesty International states:
"In Philippine law, the time limit from an arraignment to trial is set at 180 days by the Speedy Trial Act (RA 8493). However, 180 days have already passed without Acosta being arraigned, since the prosecutor has yet to file a formal complaint to the court."
Please write to the local prosecutor in Samar with the following suggested template:Address:
Prosecutor Agustin M. Avalon
c/o Office of the Provincial Prosecutor
Bulwagan ng Katarungan
Text:
A Motion for Reconsideration for the April 20, 2011 Resolution by Prosecutor Agustin M. Avalon finding probable cause to the illegal possession of explosive complaint lodged against Ericson Acosta was filed by the counsel for the accused, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), since June 24, 2011.
As citizens longing for justice, we await your prompt action on the matter. We respectfully urge your honorable office to RECONSIDER and SET ASIDE the April 20 Resolution by Prosecutor Avalon, and to issue a new Resolution dismissing the complaint against Ericson Acosta as soon as possible.
Ericson Acosta is a poet and cultural worker. He has dedicated his life to serving the people. He was arrested without warrant February 13, 2011, and has since spent months of unjust detention without any charges properly filed in court against him. His rights continue to be violated each day he remains incarcerated.
FREE THE ARTIST! FREE ERICSON ACOSTA NOW!
Signatories to the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign's postcard petition are several artists and writers including two National Artists for Literature, Bienvenido Lumbera and F. Sionil Jose.
After Prosecutor Avalon denied Acosta's Motion for Reconsideration against the filing of the illegal possession of explosive case, the NUPL filed a Petition for Review before the DOJ last September 1. Acosta was brought to court for a scheduled arraignment last September 21, but the court granted his counsel's motion to defer arraignment and proceedings pending the DOJ's decision on the review petition.
Acosta's immediate release relies on the DOJ's prompt action on the review petition. Please write letters of appeal to Philippine authorities and DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima to immediately withdraw the fabricated complaint against Ericson Acosta.
Address:
Secretary Leila de Lima
Department of Justice
Padre Faura Street, Manila
PHILIPPINES
Text:
Secretary de Lima,
Ericson Acosta is a poet and cultural worker. He has dedicated his life to serving the people. He was arrested without warrant February 13, 2011 while conducting human rights research in Barangay Bay-ang, San Jorge, Samar. He was brought to a military camp where he was interrogated and tortured for three days, before he was levied with a trumped-up charge of illegal possession of explosive to justify his arrest and continued detention. His rights continue to be violated each day he remains incarcerated.
As citizens longing for justice, we await your prompt action on the Petition for Review of Acosta's case filed by his counsel, the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) before the DOJ last September 1, 2011. We respectfully urge your honorable office to set aside the earlier resolutions of the local prosecutor in Samar, and to effect Acosta's release with the withdrawal of the fabricated complaint against him as soon as possible.
FREE THE ARTIST! FREE ERICSON ACOSTA NOW!
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