Detained artist brought to court on Martial Law anniversary

Si Ericson papunta sa Hall of Justice sa Calbayog para sa kanyang arraignment. (Ericson goes to the Calbayog Hall of Justice for his arraignment.)

CALBAYOG CITY, SEPTEMBER 21 – On the 39^th year of Martial Law, 39-year-old detained artist Ericson Acosta appears in court for a scheduled arraignment at the Regional Trial Court Branch at 2 pm today in this city.

“Political prisoners still exist under Aquino. After 39 years, Filipinos still suffer political repression. Those who were just babies in 1972 relive that dark era today, ironically under the regime of one who carries the name of Benigno Aquino, a political prisoner during the dictatorship,” said BAYAN Secretary-General Renato Reyes Jr., convenor of the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC). Volunteers of the FEAC flew to Calbayog today to support Acosta.

This is the first time Acosta got out of jail since he was remitted to the Calbayog sub-provincial jail seven months ago. Acosta, who is a poet, thespian, songwriter and former editor of the University of the Philippines’ student publication Philippine Collegian, was arrested by the military while conducting human rights research in Brgy. Bay-ang, San Jorge, Samar, last February 13.

His legal counsel led by Atty. Jun Oliva of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) moved to defer arraignment and proceedings pending the result of the Petition for Review of the illegal possession of explosive case levied against Acosta.

Matapos ibigay ang desisyon ng judge hinggil sa rekwes ng motion to defer the arraignment, kaagad na inilabas ng korte si Ericson, inihiwalay sa kanyang mga kakosa at pinaligiran ng mga militar na may bitbit na mga high powered rifles. (After the judge's decision granting the motion to defer arraignment, Ericson was immediately hauled out of the court, separated from other inmates and surrounded by military men with high-powered rifles.)

His supporters reiterated their call for Secretary Leila de Lima and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to act promptly to withdraw the charges filed against Acosta. The petition states that evidence was planted and cited the military’s admission of human rights violations in the conduct of Acosta’s arrest and detention.

The review petition was filed by the NUPL September 1 at the DOJ, where National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Executive Director Malou Jacob personally appeared to lend her support to the campaign to free the detained artist. The NCCA is a government commission directly under the Office of the President.

Sumakay rin ang mga militar sa sasakyan ng Samar sub-provincial jail kahit na kinukuwestiyon kung bakit sila naroroon. Nag-iisa lamang si Ericson na detenido na nakasakay sa van na iyon. (Military men rode with Ericson on the Samar sub-provincial jail official vehicle, although their presence there was questionable. Ericson was the lone detainee inside the vehicle.)

Postcard-Petition

Through a postcard-petition addressed to President Aquino, artists and human rights advocates expressed concern over the administration’s human rights record. They urged the chief executive to act decisively on the case of political prisoners as it affects vital national issues such as the peace talks.

“As he may recall the suffering of his family, he callously ignores the suffering of other families whose sons, daughters, wives, husbands, fathers and mothers are detained, not by the dictator but by his government; not 39 years ago, but today,” human rights group KARAPATAN said in a statement.

“It behooves the government to forge favorable conditions in the conduct of its peace efforts by releasing political prisoners, a move your own mother immediately accomplished after the fall of the dictatorship,” read the postcard-petition. They cite the continued detention of another recognized artist and poet, Alan Jazmines, who is an NDF consultant arrested by the military despite protection under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) of the GPH-NDF talks. Acosta, Jazmines and more than 70 other victims of political repression, were arrested and slapped with criminal charges under Aquino’s watch.

Pagdating sa kulungan, nagpaunlak ng interbyu si Ericson sa pahintulot ng warden sa mga lokal na midya. (Back in the jail, Ericson grants interviews to local media with the warden's permission.)

It was the unjust detention of a poet in the 1950’s, Amado V. Hernandez, which paved the way for the “Hernandez Doctrine” in Philippine jurisprudence. The Hernandez doctrine states that a person who commits a political offense could be charged with rebellion but not with common crimes or criminal charges. Hernandez was a staunch labor leader who was posthumously declared a National Artist for Literature.

The Free Ericson Acosta campaign will hold a cultural presentation entitled “POLDET: Panata sa Kalayaan ng mga Detenido Pulitikal” on September 30 at the UP Diliman Vinzons Hall Rooftop. It will feature the works of Ericson Acosta, Bonifacio Ilagan, Jose F. Lacaba, Joel Lamangan, Axel Pinpin, and other artists who were incarcerated due to their political beliefs. It will highlight the role of artists in the fight against political and artistic repression, and for genuine freedom and democracy in the nation’s history. ###

Detained artist sings for freedom in “Prison Sessions”

Ericson Acosta and Renato Reyes Jr (Sept. 20, 2011)

In the tradition of imprisoned artists like Francisco Balagtas, Jose Rizal, Amado V. Hernandez, detained cultural worker Ericson Acosta is writing…and singing, for his freedom.

Together with Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes, Jr, Acosta has recorded two albums worth of songs called “Prison Sessions,” all done while in detention at the Calbayog Sub-provincial Jail in Samar.

Acosta has been in detention for more than seven months now. He was arrested last February 13 in San Jorge, Samar by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He was unarmed at the time of his arrest and only had a laptop in his possession. However, that was enough to get him arrested, even if the soldiers were not able to open the contents of the computer. Acosta was brought to a military camp and subjected to continuous interrogation. After two days, he was brought to a police station. A total of 72 hours passed from the time of his arrest before formal charges were filed with a prosecutor. He was charged with illegal possession of explosives.

Acosta has since filed a petition for review wth the Department of Justice. His arraignment was deferred yesterday pending resolution of the DOJ review.

Acosta was a former cultural editor of the UP’s Philippine Collegian, assistant section editor at the Manila Times, and a UP student leader. He is a poet, thespian, playwright and singer/composer. A Free Ericson Acosta Campaign has been launched to help in his legal defense.

While imprisoned artists in the past would have to smuggle out their manuscripts on pieces of paper to be able to reach their target audience, Acosta’s Prison Sessions recordings reach their audience via Facebook and Twitter. The recordings are also downloadable. Aside from recordings, Acosta also maintains a blog which contains his prison writings.

"Prison Sessions 1" was recorded on April 6, 2011 while “Prison Sessions 2” was recorded on September 20, in time for the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law. The songs were recorded "live and raw", with no special effects, just voice and guitar.

Acosta and Reyes first played together at the fourth floor of UP's Vinzons Hall in 1994, during their student activist days. Both were members of the student cultural group Alay Sining and wrote several of the songs still being performed by the group today.

The recordings are intended to raise awareness of the situation Acosta and other political prisoners who remain unjustly detained by the Philippine government. There are more than 360 political prisoners in the Philippines today, according to human rights group Karapatan.

“Prison Sessions” contains original songs on various social issues. Acosta also covered songs by artists like Binky Lampano (I read the news), Tambisan sa Sining (Patay na ang kabayo), Jess Santiago (Halina) and the Eraserheads (Kailan).

Listen to Prison Sessions here:
http://soundcloud.com/natoreyes/sets/prison-sessions-2-ericson/

http://soundcloud.com/natoreyes/sets/prison-sesssions-ericson/

Prison Sessions 2 recorded at Calbayog Sub-provincial Jail on September 20, with detained cultural worker Ericson Acosta and BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes, Jr.

Tracks:

Kay Hirap ng Buhay (Reyes / Alay Sining)

Halina (Jess Santiago)

Kailan (Eraserheads)

Paalam (Acosta / Alay Sining)

Balang Araw (Acosta / Alay Sining)

Duyan (Acosta / Acosta Universe)

Pambihira (Acosta / Acosta Universe)

"Isang mintuong katahimikan" is an unfinished song written by Ericson inside the detention facility. It is a song about extrajudicial killings, a harsh reality in Eastern Visayas where Ericson is detained.

Prison Sessions 2: Isang minutong katahimikan by natoreyes

POLDET: Panata sa Kalayaan ng mga Detenido Politikal

POLDET: Panata sa Kalayaan ng mga Detenido Politikal

SETYEMBRE 30, 2011
3pm / 7pm Lean Alejandro Hall
(Vinzons Rooftop), UP Diliman

tampok ang mga akda't pagtatanghal ng

Alay Sining
Sinagbayan
People's Chorale

at nina

Ericson Acosta
Amado V. Hernandez
Bonifacio Ilagan
Alan Jazmines
Jose F. Lacaba
Joel Lamangan
Axel Pinpin
Jess Santiago
Jose Ma. Sison
at iba pa

produksyon ng Alay Sining at Free Ericson Acosta Campaign
sa pakikipagtulungan ng National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Karapatan, SELDA, Free All Political Prisoners Campaign, KARATULA, Sinagbayan, Concerned Artists of the Philippines, Philippine Collegian, atbp.

Tickets Php 50 only
Sponsor tickets Php 500 (proceeds will go to Ericson Acosta's legal defense fund)
for inquiries, please email freeericsonacosta@gmail.com

PIN(T)ALAYA: Pinta para sa Paglaya ng mga Bilanggong Pulitikal

PIN(T)ALAYA
Pinta para sa Paglaya ng mga Bilanggong Pulitikal

September 17, 2011
Dancing Fountain Grounds, Quezon City Memorial Circle


Free Henna Tattoo
Face and Body Painting
Jamming with Artists

Relatives of victims of human rights violations, especially of Political Prisoners, will lead and join the event.

This gathering is part of a series of activities calling for the immediate release of all Political Prisoners through General, Unoconditional and Omnibus Amnesty!

Artists join solidarity fasting; reiterate call for DOJ to review case of detained artist Acosta

September 13, 2011

Supporters of the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC) joined a whole-day solidarity fasting for political prisoners at the Camp Crame today. Hundreds of political prisoners all over the country, including Ericson Acosta, will fast until September 21 to commemorate the declaration of Martial Law.

Today marks the seventh month of Acosta’s detention. Acosta, who is a cultural worker and poet, was arrested without warrant by the military in San Jorge, Samar last February 13. He is currently detained at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail.

“His rights continue to be violated each day he remains incarcerated,” reads a support statement signed by hundreds of artists and writers from major artist groups and institutions in the country, such as the University of the Philippines (UP), the Philippine PEN, the Concerned
Artists of the Philippines (CAP), and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts(NCCA). Among the signatories are National Artists for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera and F. Sionil Jose; renowned painter and CAP Secretary-General Leonilo Doloricon; film critic and
UP College of Mass Communications Dean Rolando Tolentino; veteran TV and stage actor and former Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Vice President Nanding Josef; and award-winning playwright and NCCA Executive Director Malou Jacob.

His supporters also reiterated their call for Secretary Leila de Lima and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to act promptly to dismiss Acosta’s case. Acosta’s lawyers from the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) led by Atty. Jun Oliva, filed at the DOJ a Petition for Review of Acosta’s illegal possession of explosive case last September 1. The petition states that the evidence against Acosta was planted and cited the military’s admission of rights violations in the conduct of Acosta’s arrest and detention.

Stage director and screenwriter Bonifacio Ilagan called on the DOJ to “assess the legality of Acosta’s arrest and detention and to investigate and punish perpetrators of rights violations.” Ilagan himself was a former political detainee during Martial Law and is now the vice-chairperson of Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya (SELDA).

In a recent statement, the Amnesty International has also called on Philippine authorities to “end to Acosta’s detention without trial.”

General, Unconditional, Omnibus Amnesty

Through a postcard-petition addressed to President Aquino, artists expressed concern over the administration’s human rights record. They urged the chief executive to act decisively on the case of political prisoners as it affects vital national issues such as the peace talks.

“It behooves the government to forge favorable conditions in the conduct of its peace efforts by releasing political prisoners, a move your own mother immediately accomplished after the fall of the dictatorship,” read the petition. They cite the continued detention of another recognized artist and poet, Alan Jazmines, who is an NDF consultant arrested by the military despite protection under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) of the GPH-NDF talks.

“It is but just for us now to call on your honorable office to declare a general, unconditional and omnibus amnesty for all political prisoners.” Acosta, Jazmines and more than 40 other victims of
political repression, were arrested and slapped with criminal charges under Aquino’s watch.

It was the unjust detention of a poet in the 1950’s, Amado V. Hernandez, which paved the way for the “Hernandez Doctrine” in Philippine jurisprudence. The Hernandez doctrine states that a person who commits a political offense could be charged with rebellion but not with common crimes or criminal charges. Hernandez was a staunch labor leader who was posthumously declared a National Artist for Literature.

The Free Ericson Acosta campaign will hold a cultural presentation entitled “POLDET: Panata sa Kalayaan ng mga Detenido Pulitikal” on September 30 at the UP Diliman Vinzons Hall Rooftop. It will feature the works of Bonifacio Ilagan, Jose F. Lacaba, Joel Lamangan, Axel Pinpin, and other artists who were incarcerated due to their political beliefs. It will highlight the role of artists in the fight against political and artistic repression, and for genuine freedom and
democracy in the nation’s history.

Ericson as Student Activist

Anna Leah Escresa-Colina, current executive director of the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER, Inc.) and once candidate for chairperson of the STAND-UP in the UP Diliman Student Council Elections, recounts student campaigns against the commercialization of UP and other state colleges and universities during the 90s in this birthday letter to Ericson Acosta.

Ericson wrote fiery statements, popularized songs, and coined slogans for Alay Sining, STAND-UP and the broad anti-commercialization alliance UMAKSYON (Ugnayan ng mga Mag-aaral laban sa Komersyalisasyon). STAND-UP, UMAKSYON, the LFS and other youth mass organizations led thousands of students in the fight for greater state subsidy for education in massive system-wide and sectoral mobilizations during the '90s.

Strike against budget cuts!

May 27, 2011

Batch!

Hindi ko maalala kung nag-celebrate tayo ng birthday mo dati noong magkakasama pa tayo sa peyups. Hindi ko maalala kung kahit sa simpleng pagsalu-salo ng fishball o kahit sa isang litrong coke lang ay nagdiwang tayo para sa iyong birthday. O kaya kung nagpunta kami sa inyo at nagluto ng pansit si Nay Waway para sa iyong berdey. Sorry, batch. Wala talaga akong maalala. Masyado yata tayong seryoso noong mga panahon na mga aktibista tayo sa peyups at wala akong maalalang gimik natin o inuman. Seryoso nga. Ang O.A. kasi natin noong panahon na iyon, ang GND. Basta't ang naaalala ko lang na katuwaan natin tuwing prodwork o kaya ay pagkatapos ng matitinding mga kampanya o rally, sa gabi ay jamming session na sa Vinzon's lobby. Tatambay lang tayo sa Vinzon's lobby at open jamming na ninyo nila Nato, Lenlen, Babes, Roselle, Birung at iba pang mga taga Alay Sining. Solb na tayo dun. Sapat na para pawiin ng mga awiting nilikha ninyo ang pagod sa maghapon, tapusin ang gabi at pagtibayin ang ating mga diwa para sa susunod na mga bukas na haharapin.

Sa pagbabalik tanaw, malaking bagay ang mga jamming na iyon para sa mga bagong sibol na aktibistang katulad natin noong panahong iyon (early 90's). Dahil tayo ay mga aktibistang isinilang sa panahong ang buong people's movement, kasama na ang student movement ay humaharap sa matinding hamon ng pagwawasto mula sa mga kamaliang dulot ng nakaraang dekada. Kilusang pag-aaral ang panawagan noon: mag-aral, maglingkod at makisalamuha sa batayang masa. Kaya ang mga jamming at paglikha ng mga bagong progresibong awitin ng Alay Sining ay napakalaking ambag para sa pagpapatibay at pagpapanday ng prinsipyo at komitment ng paglilingkod sa bayan.

Marami nang mga kaibigan ang nagsulat tungkol sa iyo, karamihan sa mga naisulat ay kung gaano ka kahusay bilang manunulat, makata, at manggagawang pangkultura, pati na ang mga kuwento tungkol sa iyong kakulitan at mga adventures noong bohemian lifestyle ka pa, bago maging aktibista. Kahit kagabi sa matagumpay na fund raising activity para sa iyong legal defense ay panaka-nakang mauulit ang mga kuwento ng iyong kakulitan. Ang sabi ko sa sarili ko, “Mayroong kulang dito. Wala pang nakakapagkuwento kung gaano kaseryoso si Eric sa kanyang trabaho, sa kanyang komitment bilang aktibista. Dapat may magsulat nito!” Kaya eto, hindi man ako manunulat, pipilitin kong maikuwento ang seryosong bahagi ni Ericson Acosta sa paggampan ng gawain at sa pagpapanday sa sarili bilang aktibistang naglilingkod sa bayan.

Kagabi, sa matagumpay na fund raising event para sa iyong legal defense fund, habang nag-aasikaso ng mga bisita at kaibigan na dumating at nanonood sa mga tugtugan, may mga panaka-nakang mga magagandang alaalang bumabalik sa akin noong nasa peyups pa tayo.

Sa pagkakatanda ko, mas naging mahigpit ang ating pagiging magkasama at magkaibigan noong magkasama tayo para tumutok sa alliance work noong 1997, habang ikaw ang chairperson ng STAND UP at ako naman ang nakatutok sa pagbubuo natin ng Ugnayan ng mga Mag-aaral Laban sa Komersyalisasyon (UMAKSYON). Naalala ko marami kang itinuro sa akin. Ikaw ang nagturo sa akin gumamit ng Pagemaker at mag-lay out. Sama-sama rin nating inaral at sinuri ang UP Plan 2008 at ang CPDP (Commonwealth Property Development Project) at nagbuo ng komprehensibong kampanya para labanan at tutulan ang planong pagpapatayo ng DiliMall sa UP Commonwealth Property (na ngayon ay kinalalagyan ng UP Technohub). Sa igting ng laban sa komersyalisasyon, nilikha ninyo ang awiting “Komersyalisasyon.” Dinebate natin ang mga argumento na wasto lang ang komersyalisasyon ng idle assets ng pamantasan para matugunan ang kakulangan sa budget. Malusog ang debate. Wala tayong pinalampas na argumento.

At noong panahon ng USC elections ng 1997, isa ka sa mga kasamang nangumbinsi sa akin na tumakbo bilang USC Chairperson ng STAND UP kahit na ayaw na ayaw ko talaga. (Kasalanan talaga ito ni Dennis Longid na hindi pumayag na maging Chairperson noon.) Kahit sa tingin ko ay pinahinog sa pilit ang pagiging mass leader ko, napilitan na ring tanggapin dahil tila wala na ngang ibang opsyon dahil iilang piraso pa lamang tayo noon. Pumayag na din ako, dahil naniniwalang nasa kolektibong lakas natin at tamang prinsipyo ang paghuhugutan ko ng lakas. Laban kung laban. Na-appreciate ko kung paano ka tumulong sa pagtutok para mabilisan ang pag-debelop sa akin bilang chair. Kung paano umikot sa mga organisasyon para hikayatin silang maging bahagi ng UMAKSYON at labanan ang CPDP, kung paano magpatalas ng pagsagot sa bawat tanong na ibabato sa mga dorm assemblies at room-to-room, kung paano harapin si FVR at harangan sa UP Manila para ipaabot ang pagtutol sa CPDP.

Pinasikat mo rin ako dahil sa iyong artikulong “No Mall, No Lease” na lumabas sa opinion page ng Inquirer noong June 1997, artikulo iyon ng UMAKSYON pero dahil ako ang convenor noon kaya sa akin nakapangalan ang artikulo. Napasaya mo ang nanay ko dahil doon at hanggang ngayon ay tago-tago pa rin nya ang issue ng Inquirer na iyon. Paborito ko rin ang sinulat mo na speech na ginamit ko para sa Miting de Avance sa UP Film Center. Bilingual ang talumpati, may talatang Filipino at may talatang English. May mga nakalakip pang chants sa speech (No Mall! No Lease! No to Tuition Fee Increase!), kaya may participation ang mga mag-aaral na nanonood. Ang ganda talaga nung speech na iyon. Sayang at wala nang nakapagtago ng kopya. Matagumpay talaga ang eleksyon na iyon. Nakuha natin ang saktong linya, gawain sa pagpapalawak at alyansa at na-engage talaga ang mga mag-aaral na pumusisyon at kumilos laban sa CPDP. Maraming malikhaing porma ng paglaban ang ginawa natin. Hindi man ako nanalo bilang chair, nakuha naman ng STAND UP ang no. 1 councilor, si Satria Candao. Panalo pa rin tayo sa eleksyong iyon.

Naaalala ko rin naman ang mga kuwento mo tungkol sa mga adventures mo dati bago ka maging aktibista, noong nasa Baguio ka at naubusan ng pera pang pamasahe mo pabalik ng Maynila ay nagpanggap kang Koreano at pumunta sa simbahan at humingi ng tulong mula sa mga madre. Siyempre magaling kang artista at napaniwala mo sila sa iyong Korean English. Sinabi mo nga, kung gaano ka-lumpen ang lifestyle mo dati, iinom hanggang malasing at makatulog kung saang bar. Noong magkasama tayo sa peyups, hindi ko na nasaksihan ang ganitong Ericson. Kaya nga, ikaw ang perfect example kapag nagtuturo ng pag-aaral ng 'remoulding' ng mga aktibista. Mapagkumbaba ang pakikitungo mo sa mga kasama, wala na ang arogansyang intelektwal na naikuwento mo sa iyong prison diaries noong bago ka naging aktibista. May pasensyang makinig sa mga problema ng mga kasama anuman ang mga ito at nagbibigay ng makabuluhang payo. Sinabi ko rin ba na mahusay kang edukador? Kaya naman alam kong nag-eenjoy ang mga kakosa mo diyan tuwing may talakayan kayo.

At siyempre pa, pati sa lablayf namin ay may malaki kang eksena. Naging saksi ka sa unti-unting paghabi ng kuwento ng aming pag-iibigan ni Jack. Binuking mo kami sa isa't isa. Tsk. Tsk. Kaya nga ikaw ang aming best man sa kasal!

Marami pa akong gustong ikuwento, Batch, kaya lang ang hirap isulat. Mga magagandang alaala kung paano tayo naging magka-batch sa pagpapanday ng matibay na pundasyon ng aktibismo habang nasa loob ng pamantasan- matibay na pundasyon para sa pinili nating buhay. Mabuti na lang din at late bloomer ka na naging aktibista, dahil diyan naging batch tayo. Naging mas masaya, at makulay ang pagpapanday ng ating buhay upang maging mga aktibistang maglilingkod sa bayan.

Muli, happy birthday, batch! Mag-aabang kami rito ng bagong kuwento kung paano ka nag-bertdey diyan kasama ang mga kakosa.

AL

Artists, supporters to DOJ: Review case of detained artist Acosta

NCCA Exec. Dir. Malou Jacob joins support rally

Supporters of the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC) trooped to the Department of Justice (DOJ) today to call on the agency to act promptly on the Petition for Review filed by the lawyers of detained artist and activist Ericson Acosta.

Acosta’s counsel, led by Attys. Edre Olalia, Julian Oliva, Jr. and Ephraim Cortez of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), filed a Petition for Review (please see attached) of the illegal possession of explosive case lodged against Acosta, before the DOJ today.

Acosta has been in detention for more than six months now without a proper court case filed against him. In a recent statement, the Amnesty International has called on Philippine authorities to “end to Acosta’s detention without trial.”

former political prisoner Angie Ipong

Acosta was arrested without warrant by the military in San Jorge, Samar last February 13. He is currently detained at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail.

The petition came after Acosta’s Motion for Reconsideration (MR) filed June 21 was denied by the local prosecutor in a July 12 Resolution. The NUPL received a copy of the said Resolution only last August 17. Acosta’s MR was denied as “(t)he defenses raised need to be threshed out in a full blown trial,” according to the resolution.

“The investigating prosecutor seriously erred in recommending that an information for illegal possession of explosive be filed against (Acosta) in court,” read the NUPL’s petition. The petition prayed that DOJ. Sec. Leila de Lima set aside resolutions by Investigating Prosecutor Agustin M. Avalon dated April 20 and July 12, and issue a new resolution dismissing the complaint
against Acosta.

Ericson's father, Isaias Acosta

It stated several irregularities and human rights violations in Acosta’s arrest and detention, namely, 1) that Acosta was arrested without warrant while not committing any crime or doing anything illegal; 2) he was not informed of the reason for his arrest at the time of his arrest; 3) he was denied the right to counsel; 4) he was denied a phone call and prevented from
contacting his family or his lawyer; 5) he was subjected to prolonged interrogation for 44 hours; 6) he was physically and psychologically tortured during tactical interrogation; 7)he was deprived of sleep, threatened, intimidated, coerced and forced to admit membership in the NPA; 8)the grenade subject of the case was planted; 9) the complaint against him was filed in
court only after 72 hours and 30 minutes; and, 10) he was detained in a military camp, which is not of civilian jurisdiction.

“(Avalon) resolved only two (2) of the ten (10) foregoing defenses of respondent in arriving at his conclusion… conceding that indeed there was violation of respondent's constitutional, statutory and human rights by the military in his arrest and continued detention.”

“..the role of the Public Prosecutor is not mainly to prosecute but essentially to do justice to every man and to assist the court in dispensing justice,” the petition argued. It cited the Albay Accredited Constructors Asso. v. Desierto, 480 SCRA 520 case, to wit: "The ultimate purpose of preliminary investigation is to secure the innocent against hasty, malicious, and oppressive
prosecutions, and to protect him from open and public accusation of crime, from the trouble, expenses and anxiety of a public trial, and also to protect the State from useless and expensive prosecutions."

Artists troop to DOJ

NCCA Executive Director Malou Jacob

Artists and supporters led by Acosta’s family held a picket rally at the DOJ in light of the petition filing.

National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Executive Director Malou Jacob graced the event. "It is the task of the NCCA to protect artists and their rights," Jacob said.

Stage director and screenwriter Bonifacio Ilagan called on the DOJ to “assess the legality of Acosta’s arrest and detention and to investigate and punish perpetrators of rights violations.” Ilagan himself was a former political detainee during Martial Law and is now the secretary-general of Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya (SELDA).

The FEAC also submitted to Sec. de Lima customized petition-postcards and statements in support of Acosta. Signatories to the postcard-petition include National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera and F. Sionil Jose, and members of Philippine Center of International PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists), among them board members Jun Cruz Reyes, Lito Zulueta, Elmer Ordonez, Ronald Baytan, Susan Lara and Wendell Capili. TV and stage director Soxie Topacio; dance performance artist Myra Beltran; playwright and NCCA Executive Director Malou Jacob; visual artists Karen Flores, Mideo Cruz, Leonilo Doloricon, and Boy Dominguez also signed the petition for the dropping of charges against Acosta. The FEAC has also gained international support from human rights advocates and artists groups in the USA, Canada and Europe.

Marie Hilao-Enriquez of KARAPATAN

The FEAC, together with human rights groups KARAPATAN and SELDA, also called on the DOJ to investigate cases of other political prisoners. ###