Free Ericson Acosta

"Sipat" from Pitong Sundang

2012-02-27T21:21:00.005-08:00

"Sipat" based on a poem by Ericson Acosta. Music by Acosta Universe, arranged by Dibayn Leaño and JM Diego of Los Indios Bravos for the Sinagbayan dance production of Pitong Sundang staged at the University of the Philippines.

Ikatlong Sundang: SIPAT

Sinisikap nating maya’t maya ay sipatin

kung gaano pa katuwid, pantay at pasulong

ang talim at gulugod ng ating mga sundang.

Itinutok ko ito sa langit isang araw

at tulad ng manunudla ng kalaw o pipit

akin ngang ipinikit ang kaliwa kong mata.

At sa aking asinta ay mayroong tumawid:

mandi’y tutubi— dambuhala at de-makina.

Milyong sundang ang tinunaw nang ito’y hinulma,

sabi ng tao, at ang tae nito ay apoy.

Third Dagger: Perspective

At times we tried to see

how straight, even, and pointed

our dagger’s edge and spine were.

I aimed it at the sky one day

and like the archer of hornbills and sparrows

I shut my left eye.

Then something appeared in my crosshairs:

a dragonfly it seemed—massive and motorized.

A million daggers are melted to make it,

the people said, and its shit is fire.

(Translated by Charlie Veric)

Open Letter in Support of the Immediate Release of Filipino Artist Ericson Acosta - CHRP-UK

2012-02-20T17:58:00.000-08:00

As published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer -- "Aquino's Disturbing Indifference"

We at the Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines in United Kingdom are deeply concerned with the Philippine government’s seeming lack of interest on reported irregularities and rights abuses in the conduct of the arrest and continued illegal detention of Filipino artist Ericson Acosta.

Acosta was arrested without warrant on 13 February 2011 in San Jorge, Samar. Government soldiers nabbed him in an upland militarized village where Acosta was conducting research on the local human rights and environmental situation in the region. According to Acosta’s counter-affidavit, he stayed in a military camp for three days where he was interrogated and tortured for 44 hours straight. Illegal possession of explosives was charged against him to justify his illegal arrest. He is currently detained at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail where troopers from the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army has camped-out within the jail premises, causing sustained harassment and intimidation to Acosta, his family and visitors.

Acosta has made direct complaints and appeals to visiting local officers of the Philippines’ Commission on Human Rights (PCHR) in the Eastern Visayas. These PCHR officers bore direct witness to the highly-irregular military deployment within the civilian detention facility. However, the PCHR has failed to make any report public, more so to publicly condemn these rights abuses.

A Petition for Review which cites serious irregularities and rights abuses was filed by Acosta’s counsel, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) before the Philippines’ Department of Justice (PDOJ) in September 2011. Acosta’s complainants have failed to file any comment on this petition. Without such opposition, the review petition should have been resolved within 60 days. However, upon inquiry at the PDOJ, resolution to the said petition is still currently pending. The NUPL has recently filed a motion for the immediate resolution of the review.

No less than the alternate voice of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, spokesperson Edwin Lacierda has told local reporters that “there are no political prisoners” in the Philippines. When asked about government response to the plight of Acosta and some 350 other detainees incarcerated because of their political beliefs, the President’s spokesperson can only offer empty rhetoric. This indifference has brought very real suffering to detainees like Acosta and their families.

We urge concerned Philippine authorities, especially the PDOJ to act without delay on Ericson Acosta’s review petition and effect his immediate release. His rights continue to be violated each day he remains incarcerated. Consequently, reported rights abuses and irregularities must be thoroughly investigated and acted upon.

Indeed, it has become disturbing to observe how a government led by the son of a revered political prisoner and democracy icon could turn a blind eye to the plight of Ericson Acosta and other political detainees in the Philippines.

Rev Canon Barry Naylor
Honorary President – Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines (CHRP-UK)
Urban Canon and Parish Priest of the Abbey and Holy Spirit Ministries, Leicester

Statement of People’s Art Network and ICPC on 1st anniversary of detention of artist and political activist Ericson Acosta

2012-02-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

February 13, 2012 — Bound by our commitment to people’s rights forged in the International Conference on Progressive Culture (ICPC) held in Manila in July 2011, we join our fellow artists, writers and cultural workers in the Philippines and beyond in their clamour to release Filipino artist Ericson Acosta from unjust detention.

Ericson Acosta was arrested by the Philippine military in Samar province one year ago on February 13, 2011. Ericson is known to his peers at the University of the Philippines as a poet, thespian, singer and journalist. He was an active member of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines during its re-establishment in the last decade. He was seized during a visit to Bay-ang in San Jorge, Samar, a highly-militarized village, as a volunteer researcher on human rights and the environment for a local peasant group. Such arrests have become commonplace under the US-inspired Oplan Bayanihan counterinsurgency plan that targets civilians working with the poor and underprivileged.

We admire Acosta’s unwavering commitment to the cause of justice and freedom as an artist and cultural worker. It is this sense of responsibility to people and society that has led him to work in the grassroots and create art with the people.

Even in detention, Ericson Acosta continues to craft poetry and songs highlighting the plight of political prisoners in the country. Online, his prison diary JAILHOUSE BLOG and the PRISON SESSIONS recording of his songs from behind bars have generated interest from listeners and readers around the globe. His work as an artist and activist is recognized by various cultural and human rights groups in the USA, Canada, Asia and Europe.

We urge Philippine authorities to free Ericson Acosta immediately as we reaffirm our pledge to create people’s art and work to shape the society of the future.

The People’s Art Network, which was established following the ICPC, believes that, like Ericson Acosta, artists must go to the grassroots and bring art to our communities, to the people, to our people. Artists must resist curtailment of our freedom of expression, fight for the peoples’ rights and welfare, remember our history and ancestors and continue their struggles for freedom and walk along with our peoples to end injustice in our world.

Oppose attacks on artists and cultural workers, particularly those facing repression, imprisonment and worse due to the link between their art and their involvement in the people’s struggle.

FREE THE ARTIST!

FREE ERICSON ACOSTA!

FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN THE PHILIPPINES!

News Release: February 13, 2012

2012-02-12T11:31:00.000-08:00

Please share, blog, tweet, email this post and sign the online petition for Ericson's immediate release at Change. org

NEWS RELEASE:

February 13, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reference: Atty Jun Oliva (NUPL)

(02) 9206660

A year after illegal arrest

Groups clamor for detained poet’s release

NUPL files motion for immediate resolution of Ericson Acosta case before DOJ

A year after the illegal arrest of poet and former UP Collegian editor Ericson Acosta, his family, colleagues, human rights advocates and supporters “demand nothing less than his immediate and unconditional release.”

“Ericson’s sense of responsibility as Iskolar ng Bayan has led him to work in the grassroots and create art with the people. (His) right to participate productively as a free citizen of this country is violated each day he remains in detention,” read a statement released by the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC) in a press conference and music jam at the University of the Philippines Palma Hall lobby last Friday, February 10.

The event was organized by the All-UP Academic Employees Union and Acosta’s former colleagues at the university, and was attended by prominent Filipino cultural icons – US-based cultural critic and thinker Prof. Epifanio San Juan, Jr; women’s studies author Delia Aguilar; award-winning scriptwriter and author Ricky Lee; actress, screenwriter and UP Regent Bibeth Orteza; UP College of Mass Communications Dean and popular culture critic Roland Tolentino; and protest songwriter and poet Jess Santiago, among others.

“The illegal arrest and continued unjust detention of cultural worker Ericson Acosta is concrete proof of the existence of political prisoners. There is nothing righteous with having our artists like Acosta suffer in incarceration,” Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) Secretary-General Angie Ipong said in a news release.

Acosta was arrested without warrant by the military on February 13, 2011, in Brgy. Bay-ang, San Jorge, Samar just because the laptop he carried roused the suspicion of soldiers. Due to serious irregularities and rights abuses in the conduct of his arrest, his counsel led by Atty. Jun Oliva of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), filed a Petition for Review before the DOJ in September 2011, and moved to defer court proceedings pending resolution of the said petition. Ideally, a review petition should be resolved within 60 days.

“It is important for us to bear witness to the truth of the injustice done to Acosta,” Prof. E. San Juan, Jr. said.

Exactly a year after Acosta’s illegal arrest, the NUPL will today file a motion for the immediate resolution of the Review Petition. Aside from difficulties faced by his family after Acosta’s detention in Samar, they also protest continued military harassment and intimidation by troopers from the 8^th ID deployed within the jail facility.

“Instead of settling for a stable, well-paying job, or going abroad like his brothers, our son Ericson chose to teach literacy and work for the oppressed in far-flung provinces. Something is terribly wrong when he is made to suffer a year in prison for doing what he thinks is right,” lamented Acosta’s father Isaias, who is now in his late ‘70s.

Acosta was named finalist of the 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize at the Freedom to Create Awards Festival in Cape Town South Africa last November, along with imprisoned artists from Burma and Tibet. Various human rights groups and cultural institutions, including the Amnesty International, Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines-United Kingdom, University Council of UP Diliman, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Philippine Center of the International PEN (Poets, Essayists, Novelists) support the call for his release.

“Even if it has become dangerous to integrate with the masses, the scholars of the nation know it has to be done,” Dean Roland Tolentino said in his speech at the UP.

Acosta’s songs and writings from prison is posted by the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign in his JAILHOUSE BLOG (http://www.acostaprisondiary.blogspot.com). Pictures can be downloaded from the Free Ericson Acosta Facebook page and campaign blog (http://www.freeacosta.blogspot.com).

FREE ERICSON ACOSTA NOW!

2012-02-10T22:57:00.000-08:00

ERICSON ACOSTA is a former editor of the U.P. Philippine Collegian.
He is also known to his peers at the university as a poet, thespian, and songwriter.

He was arrested without warrant by the military on February 13, 2011, in an upland barrio in Samar just because the laptop he carried roused the suspicion of soldiers. He was accompanied by a local barrio official at the time of his arrest, as he was doing human rights work as volunteer researcher of the local peasant group KAPAWA in Western Samar.

We, his family, friends, colleagues and supporters demand nothing less than his immediate and unconditional release. Political persecution and the malevolent criminalization of activists have no place in a democracy.

Ericson’s sense of responsibility as Iskolar ng Bayan has led him to work in the grassroots and create art with the people. Even in detention, Ericson continues to craft poetry and songs, highlighting the plight of political prisoners in the country.

Respect for human rights is an indication of the government’s resolve to genuinely serve the people. Political prisoners are rights advocates whose bid for a more humane society is twisted and distorted in the hands of state discourse. Ericson Acosta’s right to participate productively as a free citizen of this country is violated each day he remains in detention. A year after his illegal arrest, we enjoin all freedom-loving Filipinos to defend human rights and to usher in peace based on justice.

FREE THE ARTIST!
FREE ERICSON ACOSTA!
FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION FOR ERICSON ACOSTA'S IMMEDIATE RELEASE
at CHANGE.ORG

HARANANG BAYAN

2012-02-03T22:39:00.000-08:00

Jan. 23 Statements of Gary King and Free Ericson Acosta Campaign

2012-01-23T16:27:00.000-08:00

Gary King, PhD of Amnesty International-Minneapolis

National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera

Playwright Malou Jacob

videos courtesy of Kodao Philippines

FREE ERICSON ACOSTA NOW!

DETAINED ARTIST ERICSON ACOSTA ENDED HIS HUNGER STRIKE DECEMBER 10, amidst initial assurances that government is heeding the demand to look into his case and that of other political prisoners. Acosta was visited in jail by representatives of the Commission on Human Rights-Region 8 (CHR-8) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Acosta’s family and the network of artists, friends and advocates behind the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC), appeal once again to concerned Philippine authorities to free Ericson Acosta and all political prisoners immediately.

In August 2011, the Amnesty International (AI) released a statement urging authorities to “end Acosta’s detention without trial.” After six months in detention, the international human rights group expressed concern that Acosta, like “anyone subject to arrest or detention is ‘entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release.’” The AI also pointed out rights violations in the conduct of Acosta’s arrest and detention. “Death threats and prolonged sleep deprivation for the purpose of interrogation violate the international prohibition against torture and other ill-treatment. These practices violate the Convention against Torture, which the Philippines has ratified… The Philippine authorities must investigate these allegations and hold the perpetrators accountable.”

Pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ) since September 1, 2011 is the Petition for Review of the illegal possession of explosive complaint against Acosta. Aside from the Petition filed by his counsel the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), the FEAC network also submitted before the Office of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, several statements of support for Acosta’s release signed by hundreds of artists, journalists and human rights advocates; and publicly released by different groups and individuals. The filing of the Review Petition and the artists’ protest held outside the DOJ premises that day were supported by no less than then-Executive Director of the government-run National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), acclaimed playwright Malou Jacob.

While detained in a civilian facility, Acosta continues to suffer harassment and intimidation from the military. Since July, a platoon of soldiers from the 87^th IB was deployed near the Calbayog sub-provincial jail in the pretext of military operations. Today a squad of soldiers from the 14^th IB, apparently deployed to guard Acosta, has literally set up camp within the jail compound. The prosecution’s recent motion to transfer Acosta’s custody we believe is based on an imagined, if not engineered threat, and tramples upon civilian authority. Acosta’s court appearances are all scheduled to be held in Calbayog City, making the motion obviously impractical as Catbalogan is hours away from Calbayog. Transferring Acosta will make visits more difficult and prone to military surveillance for his family and supporters. Military deployment inside the civilian facility is highly irregular as it is, and the plan to transfer Acosta to a soldier town like Catbalogan is completely unacceptable. Acosta has had enough suffering in detention to be violated several times over with overkill security arrangements.

Human rights groups have long called on President Aquino to free all political prisoners in the country. They lament the continuing practice of criminalization of political offenses, and cite the campaign for unconditional amnesty as goodwill measure for the peace talks between the government and rebel groups to move forward. Some 38 congressmen have already signed House Resolution 1956 citing the case of Ericson Acosta and urging President Aquino to grant unconditional amnesty to all political prisoners.

Acosta’s family and supporters continue to appeal to concerned Philippine authorities, along with the Amnesty International, the NCCA, the University Council of University of the Philippines, Diliman, the Philippine Center of the International PEN and several other artist and human rights organizations and institutions around the world such as the Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines-United Kingdom, the Rice and Rights Network in the Netherlands, Habi Arts USA, etc., have all made public their appeal to the Philippine government to release Acosta and to look into the irregularities and rights violations in the conduct of his arrest and detention. Acosta was even cited finalist of the 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize at the Freedom to Create Awards Festival in Cape Town, South Africa in November, for the contribution of his work in promoting the creative spirit while highlighting injustice.

Nearly a year has passed since cultural worker Ericson Acosta was arrested by the military in Samar on February 13, 2011. He was tortured, interrogated for 44 hours straight and held incommunicado for three days before a fabricated charge of illegal possession of explosive was levied against him to justify his arrest and continued detention. At the time of his arrest, he was carrying only a laptop and some personal belongings and was accompanied by a local barangay official as a volunteer researcher of the peasant group Kapunungan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Weste han Samar (KAPAWA), a member-organization of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). Philippine authorities must end his unjust detention. FREE ERICSON ACOSTA NOW!

Statement of Gary W. King, PhD

Leader of Minneapolis Chapter of Amnesty International, USA

Working on Philippine Prisoners of Conscience since 1976

Amnesty International is the world’s largest group working to abolish torture, and seeking fair and speedy trials for political prisoners,, especially for Prisoners of Conscience, which are persons detained, mistreated or killed for their nonviolent political activities, economic activities, religious orientation, cultural group, or other category. We gather facts from many sources, and report on countries’ human rights performances and specific human rights conditions. Our volunteers use this data to bring public pressure on governments to live up to their laws and treaty obligations.

People in our chapter of Amnesty International have volunteered work on dozens of cases of detention of political prisoners and on cases of Extrajudicial Executions and Disappearances since 1976, across now six administrations of the Philippine government.

We are currently working on the case of the Disappearance of James Balao, from the Cordillera People’s Alliance, and the imprisonment of Ericson Acosta in Samar.

James Balao was abducted near his home on September 17, 2008, by uniformed, armed men who said they were police from Baguio. They forced him into a white van. He had reported being under surveillance for the three prior months. Despite filing for a writ of amparo, and several favorable court rulings, he has not been surfaced. The Philippine Commission on Human Rights learned he was seen in an army camp. He has had an Enforced Disappearance, and we fear he has minimally suffered cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. At worst, he may have been executed without a trial.

Ericson Acosta, 37, was arrested almost a year ago on February 13, 2011, in San Jose, Samar. To this day, he has not had one day in court, and the prosecutor has not filed a formal complaint, despite charges in Gandara, Western Samar that he possessed illegal explosives. In violation of the Speedy Trial Act (RA8493), he was not arraigned within 180 days.

Of serious concern to Amnesty International, Mr. Acosta reported that he was abused for 44 hours during interrogation soon after his arrest. He was allowed only two hours of sleep. He was threatened that he would be executed. Death threats and prolonged sleep deprivation during interrogation violate international laws against torture and other ill-treatment, including the Convention Against Torture, which the Philippines has ratified. Any statements made by him at that time, also without the benefit of legal counsel, are inadmissible in court.

In our opinion, he should be immediately be charged and his rights of trial begun, or he should be released. An investigation into his mistreatment needs to be done, and if laws were broken, those responsible held accountable to Philippine laws.

Jan 23 Presscon with Gary King, Amnesty Int'l Minneapolis

2012-01-22T15:50:00.001-08:00

FREE THE ARTIST! FREE ERICSON ACOSTA NOW!

PRESS CONFERENCE

Monday, January 23, 2012, 1pm

BAYAN Conference Hall

4/F Erythrina Bldg., Matatag cor Maaralin Sts.,

Barangay Central, Quezon City (near KFC Matalino St.)

with Gary King

Amnesty International USA Minneapolis chapter leader

National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera

of the Philippine Center of the International PEN (Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines

Atty. Jun Oliva, National Union of People's Lawyers

Angie Ipong, former political prisoner and secretary general of SELDA

MEDIA COVERAGE IS REQUESTED WITH PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES

Nearly a year has passed since cultural worker Ericson Acosta was arrested by the military in Samar on February 2011. He was tortured, interrogated for 44 hours straight and held incommunicado for three days before a fabricated charge of illegal possession of explosive was levied against him to justify his arrest and continued detention. A Petition for Review filed by his lawyers on September 2011 is still pending before the Department of Justice.

Acosta was named finalist of the 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize at the Freedom to Create Awards Festival in Cape Town, South Africa in November for the raw recording "Prison Sessions." Since his arrest in February, the Amnesty International, the Center for Human Rights in the Philippine-United Kingdom, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, the Philippine Center of the International PEN (Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) and other concerned groups have called on the Philippine authorities to promptly review Acosta's case to effect his immediate release.

Gary King, an Amnesty International chapter leader from Minneapolis, USA, has done research on Philippine human rights cases since 1976.

He is in Manila to look into the case of artist Ericson Acosta and other current human rights cases in the Philippines.

read the Amnesty International statement on Ericson Acosta

Stand By Me

2012-01-05T18:42:00.000-08:00

2011 Philippine PEN Resolutions support release of detained writer Ericson Acosta

2012-01-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

Resolutions of the 54th Congress of the Philippine Center of the International PEN

(Dec. 1-2, 2011, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City)

We, the members of the Philippine Center of the International PEN, gathered for our 54^th Congress, hereby resolve the following:

· Restate our resolution passed during our 52^nd Congress condemning in the strongest terms the massacre on November 23, 2009 in Maguindanao, Mindanao of more than 60 civilians, many of them journalists and writers, who were apparent victims of political violence in connection with the May 10, 2010 national and local elections. We urge the Executive and the Judiciary to carry out a swift and effective trial of those accused of the killings. Delay in the dispensation of justice would endanger the lives of witnesses and worsen the injustice suffered by the victims and their kin. Moreover, justice delayed would, reiterating our 2009 Resolution, abet “the culture of violence and impunity that has been engendered by government’s rapprochement with warlords and their armies in Mindanao and elsewhere,” very evident in the state’s historic “lackluster efforts to investigate killings of and violence against journalists and other victims of human rights abuses.”

· Join and support the call for the release of writer and political prisoner Ericson Acosta. We urge the Philippine government to abide by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Since the Philippine PEN is a member of the Writers in Prison Committee International PEN, it resolves as well to call for the release of all prisoners monitored by the International PEN.

· Urge the Cultural Center of the Philippines to continue funding and supporting the publication of Ani, the CCP literature journal.

· Work more closely with the education sector, its leaders, planners and administrators, its teachers and students, and the education publishing industry, to improve literature education in the country. The Philippine PEN recognizes that literary taste is shaped in the schools, especially the public school system; it is where generations must be taught to appreciate the outstanding works of our very own writers, works that constitute the soul of our nation. Therefore, the Philippine PEN, with some assistance from the International PEN in London and the Swedish International Development Agency, resolves to conduct seminars and workshops around the country to improve literature teaching in the schools. Furthermore, it will strive to work for a comprehensive listing of quality translations of literary works in the different Philippine languages and make the inventory available to Associations of Textbook Publishers.

· Join and support the call for measures to bring down greenhouse gas emissions in order to stem climate change and its disastrous effects on the biosphere. Taking the challenge made by writer Rony V. Diaz in his keynote address of our 2011 Congress, we are specifically monitoring the developments of the summit of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change taking place in Durban, South Africa up to December 9, 2011. We expect it to come up with specific recommendations to address climate change that we will urge governments, especially of industrialized nations with the highest greenhouse gas emissions, to adopt and implement. “Statements of support and endorsement of specific recommendations of the IPCC,” said Rony V. Diaz, “will be a powerful voice from the poets, essayists, novelists, playwrights and editors of the world.” The 2011 Philippine PEN Congress concurs with the declaration of our comrade-in-the-pen. Since the issues revolving around the issue are technical and geopolitical, beyond the immediate comprehension of laymen and non-politicians, we, as writers and artists, have the artistry and the obligation to make them immediate and compelling. Therefore, we vow to use the powers of the pen and the energy of the imagination to exalt nature and humanity, painting their interconnectedness and evoking their mutual integrity. Through our verses, stories, reports and reflections, we will portray the disastrous consequences of severing the symbiosis that should exist between ecology and mankind. Writers often pit man against nature: Nature is depicted as impersonal and ruthless, man is represented as puny and defenseless. But it is more obvious from the destruction of the environment and the worsening effects of climate change that nature is the victim and man who is the victimizer. Through our writings, therefore, we will serve stern warning to humanity to change their way or else face annihilation. Through our discursive and creative writings, we will invoke the need for the restoration of the proper equation that should obtain between man and nature and of the need for them to complement one another. In this case, we will not only produce a literature of survival, which is the theme of our 2011 Congress, but also a literature of communion.

Passed during the closing ceremonies of the 54^th Congress of the Philippine Center of the International PEN, December 1-2, 2011, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City, Metro Manila, the Philippines.

Isang Minutong Katahimikan

2011-12-12T04:52:00.000-08:00

"Isang Minutong Katahimikan" is a song on impunity and extra-judicial killings written by artist and political detainee Ericson Acosta. Performed by human rights lawyer and musician Pochoy Labog (of Dicta License/Malay) and BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes, Jr.

A political prisoner's life and struggles inside prison

2011-12-12T04:14:00.000-08:00

While weak from the effects of the hunger strike, political prisoner Ericson Acosta relates how he adjusted to life in prison, the difficulties being faced by his co-inmates who come from families of peasants and workers, and the struggles of political prisoners under an administration that remains deaf , mute, and blind to their situation.

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

CALBAYOG CITY, Western Samar – Poet-musician Ericson Acosta asked his eight-year-old son Emannuel what the young boy thought about his incarceration. Instead of a direct answer, Eman said: “Isn’t it that Jose Rizal was also imprisoned?”

“Good,” Acosta said. That was his son’s first visit at the Calbayog Sub-Provincial Jail weeks after Acosta was arrested on February 13 in Bgy. Bay-ang, San Jorge, Samar by elements of the 34th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army. The military publicly branded him as a high-ranking officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in the province and was charged with illegal possession of explosives. It has been almost ten months since. In the days that followed, Eman joined fund-raising activities for the campaign for the release of his father and other political prisoners.

“One time, he distributed Free Ericson Acosta pins to his classmates. When one asked what it was all about, he joked ‘Free. It’s for free.’ Seriously, he even seems proud,” Acosta told Bulatlat.com in an interview inside prison, Dec. 7.

“On his second visit, he played the guitar and sang the songs I wrote,” Acosta said, his eyes shining. The guitar was his birthday gift. “I was told before that he was not using it so I was really surprised when he played it.”

Despite not having eaten anything for the past five days, Acosta’s mind remains lucid. Rehydration fluids have been keeping whatever physical energy is left of him. Visits, letters and support from friends sustain his spirit.

“I have difficulty sleeping. I’m feeling groggy,” Acosta said. He began his hunger strike Dec. 3 and will continue until the eve of Dec. 10, the International Human Rights Day.

“When I rose up from my bed last night, I told my co- inmates, ‘Earthquake!’ They told me, ‘No! That is just hunger.” There are nine other detainees in his cell.

Unlike most detention facilities, the provincial jail is not overcrowded. The designated receiving area is itself a detention cell for women detainees.

There are no multiple-deck beds. Acosta sleeps on a big wooden bed he shares with the other prisoners. In other cells, some prisoners have to sleep on the floor due to lack of facilities.

Food is okay but not enough, said Acosta, with only P20 budget for meals of each prisoner. They are given uncooked rice which they themselves cook. They usually have fish but they rarely have vegetables. “Those who have visitors receive additional supply. Those who are not visited by relatives are most unfortunate. They sell their ration of rice to buy coffee and other personal needs,” Acosta said.

“Sometimes, I feel the embarrassment of the rich. I share whatever is given me to other inmates,” Acosta, who has the most visits, said.

Acosta also shares his thoughts to other inmates. It has been their morning habit to discuss the evening’s news, sharing their views on issues. “Most of them resemble persons I know,” he said. Having been a peasant organizer for years, Acosta instinctively discussed problems in society and the cause he is fighting for. Most of the detainees are farmers and workers.

Sometimes, he is requested by his inmates to explain some legal documents. “I would read it aloud. And I’d say, ‘Oh! According to this, you killed this fellow.’ We all laughed,” Acosta, the performer, said.

He drafted the letter of one prisoner who had served his sentence asking for his release. “The poor man’s wife is sick and they have ten children,” said Acosta.

It took time before Acosta adjusted to this new chapter of his life. The first months, he was so angry.

After his arrest, he was subjected to torture and interrogation. For days, he was never allowed to contact his family. When he was finally brought to the court, closely guarded by the soldiers who took him, Acosta never wasted the opportunity to speak. “The colonel then offered his cellular phone. I grabbed it and called my mother. In the middle of our conversation, the colonel took his phone.”

When he was sent to the provincial jail, a platoon of soldiers from the 87th Infantry Battalion camped out beside the detention facility. “They justified their presence by saying they have operations in the area.”

During the first hearing of his case, the soldiers, in camouflage and carrying long firearms, escorted him to the court. Later, the platoon was replaced by a squad from 14th Infantry Battalion.

“I would yell at the soldiers who would go inside the jail to take a peek at me as if I were Lolong the crocodile,” he said. “I asked him, ‘Are you watching over me?’ The soldier said, ‘Why? Are you an artist?”

Later, the jail authorities themselves prevented the soldiers in full battle gear from going inside the jail.

Just last month, while Acosta was talking with Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano and other visitors, two soldiers peeked through the wide window, listening to the conversations. He confronted the soldiers and asked them to go away.

He has learned to temper his anger. On Sept. 21, the schedule of his supposed arraignment, soldiers brandishing long firearms, joined him inside the vehicle. “I controlled my anger. I talked to them, telling them not to follow orders, which violate human rights, from their higher-ups. Some nodded, many others just kept their heads bowed. They probably did not even know me and were just told to follow orders.”

It took time, too, before he became accustomed to speaking in public. “For years, I tried hard to be anonymous. Now, I have to grant interviews,” he said. Acosta said that in the many years of his organizing among the peasants, he did not divulge his identity.

On his first months in detention, Acosta, as a writer, said he suffered not from mental block but from what he called writer’s burst. “I would just write down all my thoughts,” he said, admitting his notes were often without coherence or were incomplete.

“My wife did a good thing. She sent me a copy of Alan Jazmines’s prison diary. If the old man can write, given the tighter security and worse conditions there, I could to and I must write again,” Acosta said. Jazmines is a consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) arrested in February and now detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

These past few months, the poet has gone back. His poems posted at the blog his friends put up.

Acosta, the singer, is also alive. His long-time friend, Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), visited him several times. He would sing when Reyes played the guitar. Their recorded sessions have been uploaded in social media networks. Other visitors, especially the youth, would also jam with Acosta. Most of the songs he wrote during his days at the Alay Sining, a cultural group in the University of the Philippines, were never recorded before. The songs are being passed on nevertheless from one generation of activists to another.

“It’s a different struggle here,” Acosta said.

He talked about other political prisoners that he knew such as Eduardo Sarmiento and Randy Malayao, asking about their conditions. He said he and Malayao had planned to sing together before the latter left Manila several years ago. Malayao, NDFP consultant, whom Acosta met during his college days, is now detained at the Ilagan Provincial Jail in Isabela.

Like Acosta, hundreds of political prisoners are staging a hunger strike. He noted the silence of President Benigno S. Aquino III on the call to release all political prisoners. This month’s strike is their third coordinated protest action since Aquino assumed the presidency. The first was in July, before Aquino’s second State of the Nation Address. Before the anniversary of martial law, political prisoners and their families also went on fasting. Except for Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda’s statement denying the existence of political prisoners, nothing has been heard from Malacanang.

Even as he concedes to the fact that domestic laws have no definition of political prisoners, Acosta said legislation is not necessary for the executive to declare a general, unconditional amnesty to political prisoners.

He said the Hernandez political doctrine and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, the historical experience of the country especially during martial law, as well as documents from human rights groups and even the United Nations on political prisoners, can be used as a starting point.

“The problem is that he is not listening,” Acosta said, referring to Aquino.

He said the amnesty given by Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, to political prisoners who fought the Marcos dictatorship was not “a declaration from a benevolent leader but a response to the pressure of the mass movement.”

Even inside prison, Acosta and other political detainees continue to exert pressure on the Aquino administration.

Anakpawis Rep. Mariano Speech on Human Rights

2011-12-06T21:30:00.000-08:00

Congressman Rafael V. Mariano of Anakpawis Party-list mentions his visit to detained poet Ericson Acosta in his privilege speech yesterday, December 6, 2011, at the House of Representatives:

"From July 2010, ilegally arrested, detained and slapped with trumped-up charges were Elizar Nabas, member of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) in Escalante, Negros, and Ericson Acosta, cultural worker and researcher of KMP-Western Visayas.

Ericson Acosta is currently detained at the Calbayog sub-regional (sic) jail. He was arrested February 13, 2011 while conducting human rights research on the situation of farmer victims of militarization for Kapunungan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Weste han Samar (KAPAWA – Small Peasants Association of Western Samar) and the Alliance of Concerned Samarenos (ACOS). He was levied with charges of illegal possession of explosives, was suspected to be a high-ranking official of the NPA, and was at illegally detained.

Mr. Speaker, I had the chance to visit Ericson Acosta in Calbayog City last month and I saw firsthand how military men have stationed around the jail compound; listening in to our conversations was a soldier armed with an M16 rifle. Last December 3, Acosta started to go on a hunger strike to demand his freedom."

"Mula Hulyo 2010, ilegal na inaresto, ikinulong at sinampahan ng mga gawa-gawang kaso si Elizar Nabas, kasapi ng National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) sa Escalante, Negros, si Ericson Acosta, manggagawang pangkultura at researcher ng KMP-Western Visayas,

Nakapiit sa Calbayog Sub-regional Jail si Ericson Acosta. Hinuli siya noong Pebrero 13, 2011 habang nagsasagawa ng isang human rights research sa kalagayan ng mga magsasakang biktima ng militarisasyon para sa Kapunungan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Weste han Samar (KAPAWA – Small Peasants Association of Western Samar) at Alliance of Concerned Samarenos (ACOS). Sinampahan siya ng kasong ilegal possession of explosives, pinagbintangang isang high-ranking official umano ng NPA at ilegal na ikinulong.

G. Speaker, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong madalaw si Ericson Acosta sa Calbayog City nitong nakaraang buwan at nakita ko mismo kung paano pagkampuhan ng mga militar ang paligid ng jail compound at habang kami ay nag-uusap ay may nakikinig na sundalong may bitbit na M-16. Nitong Disyembre 3, sinimulan ni Acosta ang kanyang hunger strike upang igiit ang kanyang kalayaan."

Kalagayan ng Karapatang Pantao

sa ilalim ng gobyernong Aquino

Privilege Speech

Anakpawis Rep. Rafael V. Mariano

December 6, 2011, 4:30 p.m. (As delivered)

G. Speaker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan, magpapahayag ako kaugnay sa kalagayan ng karapatang pantao ng mga magsasaka at iba pang sektor ng masang Anakpawis dahil sa Disyembre 10, ipagdiriwang ang Pandaigdigang Araw ng Karapatang Pantao o ika 63-taon ng Universal Declaration of Human Rights Day.

G. Speaker, naging marahas at madugo para sa mga magsasaka ang nagdaang administrasyong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at hanggang sa ngayon, wala pa ring hustisya para sa mga biktima ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao – mga karapatang sibil, pulitikal, karapatan sa kabuhayan, panlipunan at pangkultura.

G. Speaker, nagaganap sa kanayunan ang mga pinakamalalalang kaso ng pang-aabuso at paglabag sa karapatang pantao dahil naroon ang pinakamalakas na paglaban ng mamamayan kontra sa kahirapan, kawalang hustisya at mapang-aping kaayusan ng lipunan.

Mula 2001 hanggang Disyembre 2010, mahigit sa isanlibo at dalawandaan (1,200) ang naisadokumentong kaso ng extra-judicial killings o pagpaslang, mahigit kalahati o limandaan at walumpu (580) sa bilang na ito ng mga pinaslang ay mga magsasaka. Isandaan at tatlumpu (133) dito ay mga lider, kasapi at tagasuporta ng Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), isang militanteng pambansang organisasyon ng mga magsasaka, kung saan ang inyong lingkod ang siya ring tumatayong Tagapangulo nito.

G. Speaker, samantala, ang bilang ng mga biktima ng enforced disappearances o sapilitang pagkawala ay umabot sa kabuuang dalawandaan at anim (206), at isandaan at tatlumput-isa (131) dito ay mga magsasaka, labinlima (15) sa kanila ay mga lider at kasapi ng Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

G. Speaker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan, walang ipinag-iba ang sitwasyon ng karapatang pantao sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon sa nakaraang rekord ng malalang pag-abuso sa karapatang pantao sa ilalim ng rehimen noon ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Kagalang-galang na Speaker, ayon sa pinakahuling ulat ng KARAPATAN o Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights sa kanilang 2011 Human Rights Report nito, mula Hulyo 2010 hanggang Oktubre ngayon taon, mayroong animnapu't-apat (64) na biktima ng extra judicial killings at siyam (9) na biktima ng enforced disappearances. Tinatayang isa kada linggo ang naging biktima ng pagpaslang.

Sa bilang na ito, halos apatnapung (40) porsyento o pinakamarami ang bilang ng mga magsasakang pinaslang at biktima ng sapilitang pagkawala. Sa loob ng labing-anim na buwan mula nang maupo sa pwesto si Pangulong Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, may dalawamput-walong (28) magsasaka na ang pinaslang ng mga pinaghihinalaang elemento ng militar. Sumunod sa bilang ng mga pinakamaraming pinaslang ang mga katutubo na ang pangunahing ikinabubuhay rin ay pagsasaka o iba pang produktibong aktibidad nila.

G. Speaker, pinakahuling biktima ay si Boboy Pajanustan, isang magsasaka at kasapi ng Anakpawis Partylist mula sa Brgy. San Miguel, Las Navas, Northern Samar na pinaslang noong Nobyembre 25, 2011.

Ilan pa sa mga biktima sina Rudy at Rudyric Dejos, mag-amang magsasaka mula sa Davao del Sur na kasapi ng Zone 1 Farmers Association, affiliate ng Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, si Santos Manrique, kasapi ng Anakpawis at lider magsasaka na aktibong tumututol sa pagpasok ng mga dayuhang minahan sa Pantukan, Compostela Valley. Pinaslang siya sa harap ng kanyang asawa at anim na taong gulang na apo. Si Ramon Batoy ay isang lider magsasaka sa Arakan Valley na pinaslang ilang araw matapos ring patayin ng mga di pa nakikilalang salarin si Fr. Fausto ‘Pops’ Tentorio na coordinator ng Rural Missionaries of the Philippines o RMP na aktibong tagasuporta rin ng mga magsasaka at lumad sa South Cotabato.

Mr. Speaker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan, nitong Nobyembre 18, 2011, tinanggang dukutin ng mga elemento ng 703rd at 704th Combat Group ng Philippine Air Force si Isabelo Alicaya, lider ng Haligi ng Batanguenong Anakdagat (HABAGAT). Habang ang mga mangingisda at magsasaka sa Aurora na tumututol sa Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Free Port Authority (APECO) ay nakakaranas din ng pandarahas ng mga elemento ng 48th Infantry Battalion, Bravo Company.

G. Speaker, sa mahabang talaan ng mga kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa ilalim ng gobyernong Aquino, matingkad ang mga kaso ng pagtortyur, sapilitang pag-aresto, ilegal na pagkulong, walang pakundangang pamamaril, sapilitang pagpapalikas sa mga komunidad sa kanayunan, demolisyon sa mga maralita at pagbabawal sa mga protesta at welga.

Maraming kaso ng pagtortyur at harasment sa mga magsasaka na pinaghihinalaang kasapi ng New Peoples Army (NPA) ang nagaganap sa mga operasyon ng militar sa kanayunan ngunit hindi naibabalita. Patuloy rin ang panggigipit sa mga magsasaka lalo na sa mga lugar na may agrarian dispute o sigalot sa lupa. Gaya ng mga kaso sa mga sumusunod:

Sa Central Mindanao University, pinaulanan ng bala ang mga magsasakang kasapi ng BUFFALO, LIMUS at TAMARAW na nagtayo ng kampuhan upang igiit ang kanilang karapatan sa lupa. Tatlong magsasaka ang malubhang nasugatan sa insidente.
Sa Aloguinsan, Cebu, binuwag ang kampuhan ng mga kasapi ng San Roque Farmers Association at ilegal na ikinulong ang may 39 magsasaka at kanilang mga tagasuporta. Pinalaya sila makaraang magpyansa noong Setyembre 2, 2011.
Sa Guimba, Nueva Ecija, inaresto at ikinulong si Florentino Pagatpatan, kasapi ng MAMBAYU nang magsaka siya sa lupaing inaangkin ng Listasaka na binuo ng Department of Agrarian Reform.
Sa Hacienda Luisita, sa mismong asyenda ng mga kaanak ni Pangulong Aquino, matindi ang militarisasyon sa mga barangay laluna sa Bgy. Balete kung saan nakatira ang mga aktibong lider at kasapi ng AMBALA at ULWU. Nitong Setyembre 2011, sinampahan ng “Occupation of Real Property and Grave Coercion” sina Lito Bais at dalawampung (20) iba pang lider magsasaka at manggagawang bukid sa Hacienda Luisita.
Sa South Cotabato, patuloy ang militarisasyon sa erya ng Dole Philippines at sa mga plantasyon ng sagingan.

G. Speaker, marami pang porma ng pang-aabuso ang sinasabing ginagawa ng mga elemento ng militar sa kanayunan. Kabilang dito ang pagsesensus, paglulunsad ng mga “peace and development forum” kung saan pinagbibintangan ang mga magsasaka na kasapi o kaya'y tagasuporta ng NPA.

May mga programa rin ang gobyerno, partikular ang militar na nagpapasahol pa sa pang-aabuso sa mga karapatang pantao ng mamamayan. Nariyan ang Oplan Bayanihan na nakapadron sa Counter Insurgency Guide of 2009 ng Estados Unidos. Kung saan nagtapos ang Oplan Bantay Laya 1 at 2 ng nagdaang administrasyong Arroyo, doon naman nagpatuloy ang Oplan Bayanihan ni Pangulong Aquino.

Sa ilalim ng Oplan Bayanihan, ang mga mamamayan at sektor na kumikilos upang ilantad at labanan ang mga di-makamamamayang programa ng gobyerno at dayuhan ang siyang target ng 'neutralization' ng militar. Kinukumbina ng Oplan Bayanihan ang mga operasyong pang-kombat at mga aksyong sosyo-sibiko. Nariyan din ang paggamit sa mga grupong para-militar gaya ng CAFGU at RPA-ABB upang dahasin ang mga magsasaka at katutubo.

G. Speaker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan, kasabay ng matinding militarisasyon sa kanayunan, ipinapatupad ang mga mapanlinlang na programa gaya ng “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan Program” o PAMANA na ginagamit ng gobyerno bilang pantugon umano sa ugat ng krisis at suliranin sa kapayapaan. Mismong ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) ang naglaan ng pondong P17.623 milyon para sa mga ‘areas of conflict’ sa North Cotabato, Compostela Valley at Western Samar – mga lugar kung saan may mga malalaking kaso ng sigalot sa lupa dahil sa malawakang pangangamkam, land-use conversion at iba pang usapin ng mga magsasaka.

G. Speaker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan, bagamat, nagbubulag-bulagan at itinatanggi ng Malakanyang ang pagkakaroon ng mga bilanggong pulitikal sa Pilipinas, patuloy na dumarami ang bilang ng mga nakukulong dahil sa kanilang pampulitikang gawain, paniniwala at aspirasyon.

Sa ngayon, mayroong mahigit tatlong daan at limampu't-anim (356) na bilanggong pulitikal sa bansa, pitumpu't walo (78) dito ang inaresto sa panahon ni P-Noy. May 35 dito ay mga kababaihan at 13 ay mga konsultant sa usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) at ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Mula Hulyo 2010, ilegal na inaresto, ikinulong at sinampahan ng mga gawa-gawang kaso si Elizar Nabas, kasapi ng National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) sa Escalante, Negros, si Ericson Acosta, manggagawang pangkultura at researcher ng KMP-Western Visayas,

Samantala, G. Speaker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan, sina Felicidad Caparal, staff ng Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), at mga aktibistang sina Maritess Cosinas at Roque Dujenas ay ilang taon nang nakapiit sa Northern Samar Provincial Jail sa idinagang kasong double murder at attempted murder na isinampa ng 20th Infantry Battalion ng Philippine Army. Matagal nang napawalang sala ang pangunahing akusado sa nasabing kaso subalit patuloy pa rin silang nakakulong nang walang sapat na ebidensya.

G. Speaker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan, nananatiling nakakakulong si Dario Tomada, tagapangulo ng Samahan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Sinirangan Bisayas-SAGUPA-Eastern Visayas. Dahil sa mga banta sa kanyang buhay at sa kanyang pamilya, umalis sa Leyte si Dario Tomada at nagtrabaho dito sa Luzon subalit noong Hulyo 22, 2010, hinuli siya ng mga hinihinalang elemento ng Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) sa gawa-gawang kasong 15 counts of murder na naganap daw sa Leyte noong 1984. Nakakulong pa rin ang Lumban 3 na sina Darwin Liwag, lider ng Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (Kasama-TK) kasama sina Rey Malaborbor at Aries Suazo. Nakapiit pa rin sa Batangas ang Talisay 3 na sina Charity Dino, Billy Batrina at Sonny Rogelio, mga organisador ng Samahan ng mga Mangingisda sa Batangas (SAMBAT). Nakakulong pa rin ang Antipolo 4, Cadiz 4, Quirante 2, Guihulngan 2 at Buenavista 5 at marami pang mga magsasakang bilanggong pulitikal.

Iginigiit ng Kinatawang ito, G. Speaker, ang pangangailangang kagyat na mabigyan ng General, Unconditional at Omnibus Amnesty o agarang pagpapalaya ang lahat ng bilanggo at detenidong pulitikal.

G. Speaker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan, ilan lamang ito sa mga malalalang kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao.

Maging ang iba pang sektor ng Anakpawis ay nakakaranas ng panunupil at panggigipit. Maraming mga manggagawa rin ang biktima ng extra-judicial killings, harassment, ilegal na pag-aresto at pagkulong. Patuloy ang pag-kriminalisa sa mga sigalot sa paggawa o labor dispute lalo na sa mga lider unyon at manggagawang lumalaban sa mga unfair labor practices na isinasagawa ng kanilang mga employer.

Sa labing anim na buwan ng administrasyong Aquino, naganap ang mga pinakamararahas na pagbuwag sa komunidad ng maralita – sa Barangay San Roque sa Quezon City, sa Laperal Compound sa Makati, sa Barangay Corazon de Jesus sa San Juan City, sa Sitio San Fatima sa Paranaque City, sa Buhangin District sa Davao City at kamakailan lang sa BIR Road na sakop ng North Triangle sa Quezon City.

G. Speaker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan, marami nang resolusyon ang inyong lingkod na inihapag sa House Committee on Human Rights kaugnay sa imbestigasyon sa mga kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa hanay ng mga magsasaka, subalit hanggang ngayon, matatapos na po ang taon, wala pa rin ni isa ang nadidinig.

Higit sa lahat G. Speaker, wala pa ring katarungan sa mga biktima ng Mendiola at Hacienda Luisita Masaker na direktang nauugnay sa pamilya ni Pangulong Aquino -- sa pamilyang Cojuangco-Aquino. Sa halip na bigyang katarungan ang pagkamatay ng mga magsasakang nakipaglaban para sa kanilang karapatan sa lupa, pinipigilan pa ng mga Cojuangco-Aquino ang libreng pamamahagi ng lupa sa mga manggagawa at manggagawang bukid sa Hacienda Luisita.

Sa Disyembre 10, 2011, muling dadagsa sa mga lansangan ang mamamayan at tagapagtaguyod ng karapatang pantao upang igiit ang katarungan, pagwawakas sa kawalang pagpapanagot o impunity, ang pagkakamit ng tunay at pangmatagalang kapayapaan sa ating bayan sa pamamagitan ng pagreresolba at pagpawi sa mga ugat ng suliranin at kawalang kapanatagan sa ating lipunan.

Igalang at itaguyod ang karapatang pantao!

Maraming salamat at magandang hapon. ###

DECEMBER 6 HUNGER STRIKE BULLETIN

2011-12-06T19:42:00.000-08:00

NEWS BULLETIN DEC 6, 2011:

ON 3^RD DAY OF DETAINED ARTIST ACOSTA'S HUNGER STRIKE:

SUPPORTERS DEMAND PULL-OUT

OF TROOP DEPLOYMENT IN CIVILIAN JAIL

The Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC) will join CampoutPH which starts in Mendiola today.

TODAY IS THE THIRD DAY OF DETAINED ARTIST ERICSON ACOSTA'S HUNGER STRIKE. The Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC) today received this update from one of its convenors, Renato Reyes Jr. of BAYAN:

"Just came from Calbayog court. The prosecution wants Ericson transferred to the Catbalogan Jail (near the headquarters of the AFP's 8th Infantry Division), even if all his hearings will be in Calbayog. They fear that Ericson will be rescued by the NPA if he stays in Calbayog. Jail security is tight. There is an army squad camped out literally outside the window of the prison receiving area where we met. CHR Calbayog says it will look into the AFP detachment beside the jail."

The FEAC demands the pull out of the highly irregular, if not illegal, military deployment at the Samar sub-provincial jail in Calbayog, a civilian detention facility. According to Acosta, a platoon of soldiers from the 87^th IB were first deployed in the nearby barrio since July in the pretext of military operations. Today, a squad from the 14th IB loiters inside the facility’s premises listening in to Acosta's conversations with visitors. The military troops also impose on the guards to show them records of prison visitors.

Acosta says that it is necessary to maintain the civilian nature of the Samar sub-provincial jail. “It is also a challenge for civilian authorities to assert their power over these military ‘invaders.’”

The troop deployment and overkill security arrangement during Acosta’s first court appearance where he was made to ride the jail vehicle as a lone detainee in the midst of soldiers in full battle gear “are symptoms of one affliction." “Fascism is the most dangerous type of paranoia,” Acosta said.

Acosta is scheduled to appear in court on December 8, 2011. His counsel, a group of lawyers from the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, will once again move to defer proceedings pending the DOJ’s decision on Acosta’s review petition filed last September 1. The motion to transfer custody of the Acosta is also scheduled to be heard, but the NUPL has yet to receive a copy of the motion.

Instead of wasting government and military resources with Acosta's security arrangements, the FEAC reiterates its appeal to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to withdraw fabricated charges of illegal possession of explosives lodged against him, and to effect Acosta’s release from detention immediately.

“Malaki ang aking pag-asang bibigyan aksyon ng DOJ ang kaso ni Ericson. Manalig tayo dito," said playwright Malou Jacob who as Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), personally appeared at the DOJ to support the filing of Acosta’s review petition

“Sawang-sawa na ako sa kalaboso!” Acosta said in support of CampoutPH which will commence today at the Mendiola Bridge in Manila.

ERICSON ACOSTA IS ON HUNGER STRIKE!

2011-12-03T20:13:00.000-08:00

SUPPORT!

Through your help, we can see to it that Ericson will be reunited with his family and the people he serves.

You may donate through the account:

Isaias Acosta
BDO The Block SM City North branch
Savings Account # 0251065464

For international donations:

Isaias Acosta

BDO The Block SM City North branch
Savings Account: 00-0251065464
Routing #: 021000089
Swiftcode: BNORPHMM

Detained artist Ericson Acosta begins his hunger strike today, December 3, 2011, as part of the campaign to free all political prisoners in the country. Acosta’s hunger strike intends to expose the particular circumstances of his arrest and continued unjust detention.

Acosta’s supporters have called on authorities, particularly the DOJ, to immediately withdraw the fabricated illegal possession of explosive complaint lodged by the military against the poet. Acosta stresses that it utterly baseless for him to undergo a full-blown trial for this trumped-up charge. Instead, he says it is he who should have the right to charge the state elements responsible for violations of his human rights.

One of his particular demands is to pull out the highly irregular if not illegal presence of a squad of military men near his place of detention. A platoon of soldiers from the 87^th IB were first deployed in the nearby barrio since July in the pretext of military operations, but it has become apparent that the soldiers are there to “guard” Acosta. Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano in his recent visit to the Calbayog jail directly witnessed how soldiers listen in to Acosta’s conversations with visitors.

It is necessary to maintain the civilian nature of the Samar sub-provincial jail. It is also a challenge for civilian authorities to assert their power over these military “invaders.” This troop deployment, and the overkill security arrangement during Acosta’s first court appearance where he was made to ride the jail vehicle as a lone detainee in the midst of soldiers in full battle gear “(these) are symptoms of one affliction of paranoia named Fascism.”

“Fascism is the most dangerous type of paranoia,” Acosta said.

C A S E T I M E L I N E

February 13, 2011 – While on his way to San Jorge town from Barangay Bay-ang proper around 10 am, Acosta was arrested without warrant by elements of the 34^th IBPA led by 2^nd Lt. Jacob Madarang. Acosta was accompanied by a barangay official and was carrying only a laptop and some personal belongings at the time of his arrest. With threats, soldiers instructed Acosta’s companions from the barrio to carry on, as they were only interested with the “Tagalog” whom they suspected of being a high-ranking NPA rebel. Acosta was conducting human rights research in the militarized barrio for Kapunungan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Weste han Samar (KAPAWA – Small Peasants Association of Western Samar) and the Alliance of Concerned Samarenos (ACOS).

Acosta was brought to the 34^th IB Charlie detachment in Brgy. Blanca Aurora, San Jorge. They arrive at about 9pm. Acosta was interrogated, coerced and tortured for 44 hours straight with only 2 hours of sleep. He was denied communication to his family as well as access to a lawyer, despite his repeated assertion of his rights. Arresting military officers file a report on Acosta’s arrest on the same day.

February 15 – Around 7pm, Acosta was brought to the PNP Municipal Headquarters in San Jorge. While Acosta was still in the vehicle with military escorts, a grenade was presented by the military to the police. Inside the building, Acosta was later told by police officers that he was being charged with illegal possession of explosive. He was brought to a hospital for medico-legal procedure and was detained overnight at the PNP San Jorge.

February 16 – Police completes the blotter procedure against Acosta. He was brought to the Calbayog Hall of Justice around 9am by military escorts in civilian clothes. Acosta was finally able to call his family when he asserted his rights in front of civilian employees in the building. A complaint of illegal possession of explosive signed by the San Jorge PNP Chief Oscar Pagulayan was directly filed to the Regional Trial Court of Gandara, Samar, Branch 41 at 10:30 am, or seventy two (72) hours and thirty (30) minutes after Acosta’s arrest on February 13, 10 am. Acosta was then remitted to the Calbayog sub-provincial jail around 1:30 pm.

February 17 – The AFP publicizes the capture of a “top ranking CPP personality,” Ericson Acosta aka “August Lim.” The AFP releases state that “..troops recovered from Acosta one (1) laptop notebook with complete accessories and spare battery, an external hard drive, Globe tattoo (USB globe broadband), one (1) unit Nokia 3530, 6 pcs SIM cards, a cash amounting to Four Thousand Eight Hundred pesos (P4, 800.00) only and his personal belongings.” As for the grenade subject of the illegal possession complaint, reports said that “(Acosta) … attempted to draw a hand grenade from his pocket.”

March 1 –The Acting Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Gandara, Samar, Branch 41, Hon. Subanah E. Usman, instead of issuing a Commitment Order, issues an Order referring the case to the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Calbayog City for Preliminary Investigation.

April 11 – Acosta through his counsel, a legal team from the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) led by Atty. Jun Oliva, files his counter-affidavit, which states: "a. He was arrested without warrant while not committing any crime or doing anything illegal; b. He was not informed of the reason for his arrest at the time of his arrest; c. He was denied the right to counsel; d. He was denied a phone call and prevented from contacting his family or his lawyer; e. He was subjected to prolonged interrogation for 44 hours; f. During tactical interrogation, he was physically and psychologically tortured; g. He was deprived of sleep, threatened, intimidated, coerced and forced to admit membership in the NPA; h. The grenade subject of the case was planted; i. The complaint against him was filed in court only after 72 hours and 30 minutes; j. He was detained in a military camp, which is not of civilian jurisdiction."

April 15 – The Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC) is launched in Quezon City. A statement calling for his immediate release is signed by hundreds of artists, journalists, human rights advocates and other supporters.

June 7 – Acosta receives Prosecutor Agustin Avalon’s resolution dated April 20, recommending the filing of the illegal possession of explosive case in court.

June 21 – NUPL files a motion for reconsideration before the prosecutor.

July – Delegates to the International Conference on Progressive Culture held in the Philippines sign the support statement calling for Acosta’s immediate release. Signatories include prominent artists and cultural groups from the USA, Canada, Asia and Europe. Troops from the 8^th ID begin to station near Acosta’s place of detention.

August 12 – Amnesty International calls for the end of Acosta’s detention and cites rights violations.

August 17 – NUPL receives Prosecutor Avalon’s resolution dated July 12, denying the motion for reconsideration.

September 1 – NUPL files a Petition for Review before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

September 21 – Acosta is brought to court for a scheduled arraignment. Court grants his counsel's motion to defer proceedings pending the DOJ’s decision on the review petition. Acosta is again harassed by the military when made to ride the jail vehicle as a lone detainee along with military escorts in full battle gear.

October 14 - The state’s National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) ties up with the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (DOJ), in a gathering of artists calling on the DOJ to promptly review Acosta's case.

November 19 - Acosta is named finalist of 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize at the Freedom to Create Awards Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, along with filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen of Tibet. Musician Win Maw of Burma wins the Prize.

ARTISTS SUPPORT CALL TO FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS WITH “POLDET” SHOW

2011-12-03T20:08:00.000-08:00

ON DEC. 3, 2011: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF POLITICAL PRISONERS

ARTISTS, CULTURAL WORKERS SUPPORT CALL

TO FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS WITH “POLDET” SHOW

click to watch e.g.yolk production's coverage of POLDET

“Mr. President, we are not criminals.”

Former “poldets” (political detainees) Bonifacio Ilagan, Judy Taguiwalo, Angie Ipong, Axel Pinpin and health workers of the Morong 43 joined artists and cultural workers in a multi-media show calling for the release of all political prisoners in the country, in commemoration of International Day of Political Prisoners today.

“POLDET: Panata sa Kalayaan ng mga Detenido Politikal,” a play first staged by the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign and Alay Sining last September in UP Diliman is adapted for the performance space at the Access Point Bar in Quezon City by director Donna Dacuno.

The show highlighted the plight of currently detained artists – songwriter Ericson Acosta, UP film student Maricon Montajes, and poet Alan Jazmines.

“POLDET introduces audiences to the wealth of prison literature since Martial Law until the present, and hopes to make the public aware of the plight of its incarcerated authors,” said Dacuno. Like Acosta, Dacuno was once chairperson of the youth cultural group Alay Sining in UP Diliman.

“There are more than 350 political prisoners languishing in different detention centers in the country today – at least 78 of them, Acosta and Jazmines included, were in fact arrested under President Aquino’s watch,” according to Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) Sec-Gen Angie Ipong.

Acosta’s songs and poetry, which earned him a nomination as finalist in the prestigious 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize at the Freedom to Create Awards Festival in Cape Town, South Africa last November, is featured in POLDET.

Artists and cultural workers from the Anino Shadowplay Collective, Karatula, Los Indios Bravos, UP Silip, e.g. yolk productions, Sinagbayan, Nuno ni Nena and KM64 Poetry Collective, have pooled their talents in this PinoyMedia Center production of “POLDET.”

Human rights watchdog KARAPATAN defines political prisoners as those who were arrested, detained and imprisoned for acts that further their political beliefs. They are arbitrarily denied their liberty and due process of law. They are charged with political offenses such as rebellion and sedition. More often, they are charged with criminal offenses like murder, arson, kidnapping, robbery-in-band and illegal possession of firearms to deny the political nature of their alleged offenses and to reduce them into plain criminals. President Aquino’s own father Ninoy was martyred during the Marcos dictatorship as an exiled political prisoner.

Acosta and other political prisoners in Southern Tagalog and Compostela Valley are currently staging hunger strikes to demand their immediate release. Human rights groups call on President Aquino to free political prisoners before Christmas. POLDET will have another show at the Access Point Bar on Dec 10, International Human Rights Day.

POLDET: Panata sa Kalayaan ng mga Detenido Politikal

2011-11-22T16:56:00.001-08:00

POLDET

PANATA SA KALAYAAN NG MGA DETENIDO POLITIKAL

December 3 and 10, 2011 / 7pm

Access Point Bar and Resto, Sct. Borromeo St., Timog Area, Quezon City

POLDET is a cultural presentation on the nation’s struggle for artistic and political freedom as reflected in the works of artists behind bars featuring performances from Jess Santiago, Bobby Balingit of Wuds, Chickoy Pura of The Jerks, Cabring Cabrera of Datu's Tribe, Pochoy Labog of Dicta License, art groups Anino Shadow Play Collective, UP Sining at Lipunan, Bersus, Nuno ni Nena, BLKD, Sinagbayan and other artists.

Highlights include testimonial monologues from former political detainees like poets Bonifacio Ilagan, Judy Taguiwalo, and Axel Pinpin, SELDA Secretary-General Angelina Ipong, and health workers of the Morong 43. The show will also highlight the plight of current political prisoners including poet Alan Jazmines, film student Maricon Montajes and cultural worker Ericson Acosta.

Acosta’s songs and poetry, which earned him a nomination as finalist in the prestigious 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize of international group Freedom to Create, will be featured in POLDET.

Petition-signing will be held at the KARAPATAN information booth. You may also send a petition-postcard to Philippine authorities. Human rights campaign merchandise such as shirts, pins, bookmarks and stickers will also be available at the booth. Proceeds will go to legal defense and campaign fund of political prisoners.

For inquiries and donations, please contact

Cynthia (0915-4872495) or Sarah (0921-7417469)

Detained artist is finalist in int’l art award

2011-11-14T07:13:00.000-08:00

Artist and political detainee Ericson Acosta is one of the three finalists in the prestigious 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize.

The other two finalists are musician Win Maw of Burma and filmmaker Dhondup Wanchen of Tibet.

The Imprisoned Artist Prize is one of the awards given by Freedom to Create, an international award-giving body launched in 2008 aimed to “celebrate the courage and creativity of artists and the positive influence of their work to promote social justice and inspire the human spirit”.

Acosta is the sole Filipino finalist in the Freedom to Create Awards.

The Imprisoned Artist Prize is presented to artists who are incarcerated “because of their courage and creativity in pursuing their art, and the role of their work in highlighting injustice”. One winner will be awarded USD$25,000, which will then be utilized in securing the artist’s release, and advocacies and campaigns for his or her freedom.

“In 2011, we have received over 2000 prize entries from more than 145 countries around the globe. A total prize fund of US$100,000 will be awarded to the winning artists and their nominated advocacy organisations to further the cause their artwork has highlighted,” the group’s website said.

Among the judges for the Prize are actress Daryl Hannah, novelist Salman Rushdie and danseur Mikhail Baryshnikov. Winners will be announced on the Freedom to Create Award Festival on November 19 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Acosta is an artist, journalist and cultural worker who was illegally arrested by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on February 13, 2011 in Barangay Bay-ang, San Jorge, Samar province in the Eastern Visayan region. He faces trumped-up charges of illegal possession of explosives and is currently detained at the Calbayog City sub-provincial jail. Acosta's counsel filed a Petition for Review of his case before the Department of Justice (DOJ) last September 1.

Even in jail, Acosta continues to make his art and music heard despite and in spite of the most pressing of circumstances. A raw recording dubbed “Prison Sessions” featuring Acosta singing his original compositions in jail instantly enjoyed thousands of hits and followers online. He also maintains an online journal, Jailhouse Blog.

Acosta’s supporters call on DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima to immediately withdraw fabricated complaints against him. Among his supporters are officials of the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), National Artists for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera and F. Sionil Jose, Philippine Center of International PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists), Concerned Artists of the Philippines, University of the Philippines National Writers’ Workshop fellows and panel, and artists from the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia who attended the International Conference on Progressive Culture last July. ###

Pambihira

2011-11-07T08:06:00.000-08:00

Ericson Acosta sings his song "Pambihira" with his son on guitar at the Samar sub-provincial jail in Calbayog City.

Pambihira
Written by E. Acosta

Intro: G

I
G
Kung sakali mang mapagpasyahan kong D Em C
Di na muna tumanda, pwede kaya?
G
Kung sakali mang mapaglibangang D Em Bm
Humugis ng paso sa pusod ng dagat

Chorus
Bm C Bm
Magtagumpay kaya ako C G
Sa mga pambihirang panukala kong ito?
G C G
Hmmmmm...
G C
Malamang ay hindi
G C G
Hmmmmm...
G
Malamang ay hindi

II
Kung sakali mang ang kahilingan ko'y
Maisilang na muli, ano nga bang mali?
Kung sakali mang mangailangan
Ng yelong galing sa bunganga ng bulkan

Repeat Chorus

Ad lib
G --, E -- E7

III
A F#m
At kung sakaling aking masuri
A
Mga utos ng hari F#m
Kailangang mabali na ngayon

Chorus 2
C#m D C#m
Magtagumpay kaya ako D A
Sa mga pambihirang panukala kong ito?
A D A
Hmmmm
A D
Di pwedeng hindi
A D A
Hmmmm
A D
Di pwedeng hindi

Peculiar

If I ever decide to stop growing old / Could it happen? / If I ever fancy making pottery in the depths of the sea / Could I pull off these peculiar schemes? / Perhaps not / Perhaps not

If I ever ask to be reborn / What could be wrong? / If I ever require ice from a volcano's mouth / Could I pull off these peculiar schemes? / Perhaps not / Perhaps not

And suppose I conclude / We must now break a tyrant's wishes and whims / Can I pull off these peculiar schemes?

There's no way I can't / There's no way I can't

Higanteng Nahihimbing

2011-11-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

ni Omeng Rodriguez

Ilang taon ko na rin hindi nakikita si Ericson. Bukod sa pagbasa sa kanyang mga blog entry, mga interbyu na mapapanood sa youtube at pakikinig sa kanyang mga orihinal na awitin sa soundcloud, mas ninais kong makita at makamusta siya ng personal. Nang magkaroon ng pagkakataong maapruba ang paggawa ng isang proyekto para sa mga bilanggong politikal, alam kong magiging makabuluhan ang dalawang araw na pananatili sa syudad ng Calabayog sa isla ng Samar upang dalawin doon ang hinahangaang alagad ng sining.

Matapos ang lampas tatlong oras na biyahe mula Tacloban, kasama sina Wena, Sinag at Eman, ang nag-iisang anak nina Ericson at Kerima, at sa tulong na rin ni Gerry na ka-henerasyong aktibista sa UP na nakabase na sa Tacloban, bagaman pagod sa biyahe, maluwalhati naming narating ang Calbayog sub-provincial jail. Ilang metro lamang ang layo nito sa highway. Tila isa itong pinaglumaang warehouse ng ahensiya ng pamahalaan na ginawang kulungan ng mga presong nahuli sa sinasakupang lugar. Sa pagsilip sa siwang ng tarangkahan ng guwardiya at tuluyan nitong pagbukas, bumungad sa amin ang mga taong nakasibilyan. Bagaman may pagtataka sa kanilang mukha sa aming pagdating, naroon din naman ang kanilang magiliw na pagtanggap sa amin bilang mga dalaw.

Ipinahiram ng warden ang kanyang mesa upang may mapatungan kami ng gamit. Dinala ito sa kuwartong itinalaga na lugar ng pagbisita sa mga nakapiit doon na preso. Ang mga sumunod na kuwarto nama'y nagsisilbing mga selda at tarima. Sa isang gilid may maliit na tindahan ng tsitirya, tinapay at softdrinks. Parang itong isang maliit na komunidad; may mga kubo, may mga batang naglalaro, may mga buntis na asawa ng ilang preso, at may inaalagaang mga hayop sa likurang bakuran. Ilang minuto lamang, dumating si Ericson. Magiliw niya kaming niyakap. Bagaman aminado na hindi siya gaanong nakatulog dahil sa antisipasyon sa pagdalaw ng mga kaibigan, nananatili ang palabiro niyang katangian na sinamahan ng ngiting tatak na niya noong magkakasama pa kami sa kolehiyo.

Sa kamustahan namin nalaman ang ilan sa kanyang kalagayan sa loob ng piitan; kung papano niya ginawang silid-aralan ang piitan upang matutong magsulat at magbasa ang kanyang mga kasama sa selda, ang pagpapalalim ng talakayan sa pagitan ng mga preso sa mga lokal at pambansang usapin, at ang pagdiin sa mga protesta sa loob mismo ng piitan dahil sa pag-abuso sa kapangyarihan ng ilan sa mga namamahala doon. Habang nagkukwentuhan, makikita naman sa labas ang palakad-lakad na nakasibilyang kalalakihan na binanggit ni Ericson na kasapi ng mga militar na nagtayo ng kampo sa likuran ng piitan simula ng siya'y mahuli. Ikinuwento niya ang kalagayan ng ilan sa mga preso; ang mga kinasadlakan ng mga goons ng mga natalong politiko, ang aleng sa halip na ikulong ang anak na maysala ay siya ang ikinulong, at ang mga karaniwang kuwento ng mga presong biktima ng inhustisya sa lugar.

Kahit kami'y nasa lugar ng piitan, para na kaming iniligid ni Ericson sa buong probinsiya ng Samar gamit ang kanyang mga salita, galaw at tila pag-awit ng kasaysayan ng islang pinili niyang maging lunan ng tunggalian. Isinalaysay niya ang kanyang naging karanasan sa paglingkod sa kanayunan; kung paano siya dinakip at pinaratangan ng mga militar, ang ginawang pagsuporta at pagtanggol sa kanya ng masa upang siya'y bawiin, at ang nakaukit ng kamalayan sa diwa ng himagsikan na nananahan sa buong isla ng Samar na walang ipinagkaiba sa iba pang probinsya at isla sa Pilipinas.

"Isang higanteng nahihimbing ang isla ng Samar, isang higanteng marapat gisingin" sabi ni Ericson.

Sulat kay Ericson mula kay Bibeth Orteza

2011-10-27T20:18:00.000-07:00

Binasa ng batikang aktres, manunulat at direktor na si Bibeth Orteza ang sulat na ito para kay Ericson Acosta sa "Kumustahan mula sa Piitan" ng Concerned Artists of the Philippines nitong Oktubre 14, 2011 sa NCCA Intramuros.

Narito ang orihinal na sulat sa Waray (katutubong wika sa Silangang Kabisayaan), at ang salin sa Filipino. Ipinanganak si Orteza sa Catbalogan, Samar, ilang bayan ang layo sa Calbayog City kung saan kasalukuyang nakapiit si Ericson.

Oct. 14, 2011

Maopay nga adlaw, Ericson.

Nacabati aco han recording han emo nga canta, han mga emo la solo, ngan an ha mag-opod camo ni Nato Reyes. Mag-opay nga mga carantahon; con may masiring nga diri malipay, sisidngan nga an ongod nga calipayan het ticang ha camatuoran.

Naawod aco nga deda ca ha Samar na-dacop.

Pera ca-beses na ene nga pagca-awod. An ona han pagca-posil ni Dr. Bobby de la Paz deda lewat ha Calbayog. Ada pa lewat an pagdaog ni Fernando Poe Jr. ha elecsyon ha pagca-presidente han 2004, ca-tima iguinlabog na la an ongod nga resolta. Ada pa an pagdaog han mga malimbong ha iba-iba nga parte han tibuoc nga isla. Maaram hera con heno han nabaligya han mga boto, maaram han langit con heno het mga perestehon nga napalit han mga boto.

Orhi co nga pagcada, damo pa’t mga carsada nga waray pa ca-semento, pero na-release na cono an pondo. Damo pa’t mga baryo nga waray coryente, waray escoylahan para ha cabataan, waray mga medisina ha ospital, damo nga labi pa ha damo nga waray para ha mga Waray-waray.

Naawod aco, Ericson, nga icaw, nagqui-quiquinada para magsorat ngan mangoha han inspirasyon ha dere na nacacapanhatag han inspirasyon ha heya mismo nga mga tawo.

Nahihiya ako, Ericson, na ako na diyan pa sana sa Justice Quonset Hut sa Catbalogan ipinanganak, naririto lang, at ikaw ang nariyan.

Naawod aco, Ericson, nga aco nga deda pa conta ha Justice Quonset Hut ha Catbalogan natawo, a-ade la, ngan icaw han a-ada.

Naawod aco, Ericson, nga aco, cay may ngaran, nag Outstanding Samarnon, doha pa ca beses, seguro cay an acon apoy nag Tresorero Provincial, het acon tatay nag Provincial Fiscal, het acon nanay nag Miss Catbalogan, ngan aco nag-artista, pero ano man lewat han outstanding nga nahimo co, compara han ha emo na hemo ngan mga hehemoon pa?

Naawod aco, Ericson, por eso, mabolig aco nga manguita han mga ca-oropod nga mga artista nga magyayacan, magra-rally, mag-aaringasa hasta ha macagawas ca. Ene nga butones — dere co na ene hohocason hasta macagawas ca. Maqui-quigyacan aco ha con heno nga mamamati dede ha gobyerno nga ene, hasta macagawas ca.

Waray opay han pagca-awod con hasta ha awod la.

Ayaw cabaraca, Ericson, con ano pa’t acon mahihimo, sereng la.

A-ade la cami. Waray ha amon ma-atras.

Amo la.

Bibeth

Oct. 14, 2011

Magandang araw, Ericson.

Nakarinig ako ng recording ng mga kanta mo, ng iyong mga solo at ‘yung magkasama kayo ni Nato Reyes. Maganda ang mga kanta. Kung may magsabi na hindi masaya, sabihan na ang tunay na kasiyahan ay iyong mula sa katotohanan.

Nahihiya ako na sa dyan ka pa sa Samar dinakip.

Ilang beses na itong hiya na ito. Ang una sa pamamaril kay Dr. Bobby dela Paz diyan din sa Calbayog. Nariyan din ang pagkapanalo ni Fernando Poe Jr. sa eleksyon ng pagkapangulo noong 2004, na pagkatapos ay ibinasura lang ang tunay na resulta. Nariyan din ang pagkapanalo ng mga kaduda-duda sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng buong isla. Alam nila kung sino ang nagbenta ng mga boto, alam ng langit kung sino ang mga namemesteng bumibili ng mga boto.

Noong huli akong pumunta riyan, marami pang kalsada ang hindi nasesemento, pero na-release na raw ang pondo. Marami pang mga baryo ang walang kuryente, walang eskwelahan para sa mga bata, walang mga gamot sa ospital, marami’t sobra pa sa marami ang wala para sa mga Waray-waray.

Nahihiya ako, Ericson, na ikaw, pumupunta riyan para magsulat at kumuha ng inspirasyon sa hindi na nakapagbibigay ng inspirasyon sa sarili niyang mga tao.

Nahihiya ako, Ericson, na ako, dahil may pangalan, nag-Outstanding Samarenyo, dalawang beses pa, siguro dahil ang lolo ko naging Provincial Treasurer, ang tatay ko naging Provincial Fiscal, ang nanay ko Miss Catbalogan, at ako nag-artista, pero ano nga ba ang outstanding sa mga nagawa ko, kumpara sa mga nagawa mo na at gagawin mo pa?

Nahihiya ako, Ericson, kaya tutulong ako sa paghanap ng makakasamang mga artista na magsasalita, magra-rally, mag-iingay hanggang sa makalaya ka. Itong pin na ito – hindi ko na ito tatanggalin hanggang sa makalaya ka. Makikipag-usap ako sa sinumang makikinig sa gobyernong ito, hanggang sa makalaya ka.

Walang saysay ang kahihiyan kung hanggang sa hiya na lang.

Huwag kang mag-alala, Ericson, kung ano pa ang magagawa ko, magsabi ka lang.

Naririto lang kami. Wala sa aming aatras.

Ito lang.

Bibeth

Who is Ericson Acosta?

2011-10-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

Kerima Lorena Tariman-Acosta*

article for the TATAK KULE, Philippine Collegian Alumni Homecoming, October 7, 2011

The first time I went to the countryside to integrate with farmers, government troopers tried to show me first-hand how fascism, counter-insurgency and psychological warfare work. As if to make sure I don’t forget, they gave me a minor grenade shrapnel wound, and a major, lingering fear of any man with a golden wristwatch who’d seem to loiter in public places to watch me.

They held me in a military camp, asked me tons of questions before I can even get to a lawyer, and presented me to media in handcuffs. They slapped me with a criminal charge of illegal possession of a high-powered firearm and had me imprisoned.

First to see me in jail was my father, a really anxious Pablo Tariman. Everyone knows he’s never the activist. He could only turn to his Pavarotti records whenever he’s down.

Then from out of nowhere, on my birthday, came Ericson Acosta, a dear friend from the Collegian. He probably spent his own birthday in transit to that strange town just to see me. He looked like he was in such a hurry to get there he even forgot to shave.

After I was released on bail, I found myself in an ABS-CBN studio confronted with the very showbiz question “Is there someone special in your life?” from no-less than Kris Aquino. The query came as a surprise, I might have quickly replied defensively in the negative. After two years, my court case was dismissed. It was also at that time I married Ericson. So in case she’s still interested, I guess Kris should be updated.

Ericson was arrested by the military in San Jorge, Samar on February 13. He was brought to court last September 21—significant date for an activist named after an FQS activist, too ironic for someone born the same year Marcos declared Martial Law. Now I couldn’t drop everything to see him as he did for me more than ten years ago, even if the world expects the wife to do so. Why?

To the AFP, Ericson is a “top personality of the Communist Party.” Once “dissident terrorist,” now “wife of a terrorist cadre” in the eyes of the AFP. That makes the vicinity of his prison cell very dangerous territory for me to tread.

But to people who know him, Ericson has transformed himself from a “troublesome” artist to a serious activist. His artistic and political awakening started early in the theater workshops of the PETA, which he joined since grade school.

He identified himself with artists and their eclectic habits but refused to join political organizations like the LFS, as a self-styled bohemian brimming with intellectual arrogance. As campus writer and editor, his grasp of social, political and aesthetic theory relied mainly on his collection of Marxist literature and books salvaged through missions of the notorious “Main Library Liberation Front.”

The split in the student movement during the ‘90s challenged him to seriously heed the call to learn from the masses. The slogan “The masses are the true heroes and makers of history” sounds passé, but it humbles even the disinterested once they realize its truth.

Ericson gave up his crazy drinking habit for the natural high of activism. He became a prolific poet, songwriter and cultural worker. Years under the obscenely corrupt Arroyo regime led us to choose to return to the countryside to live and learn with the people.

To our son, Ericson is tatay, the funnyman shipcaptain of the AcostaUniverse inter-galactic band. In robo-character, tatay tells him he is actually a Gordoxian child; we his parents need to navigate to and fro the distant Planet Gordox and that’s the reason why we can’t always be with him here on Earth. This sci-fi antic amuses him, but it still sounds stupid even to kids. So he tells us he knows that we just need to ride a bus and walk several kilometers uphill to be transported to another world.

Samar is one such realm, and its people continue to suffer from militarization even after Palparan’s time as general in the region. Now Ericson has gone from documenter of violations to human rights victim himself. It is this tragic irony that has underscored the political context of his case and has given us compelling reason to heighten the call for his immediate release.

Ericson’s fault was to bring a laptop to the barrios, just as it was botanist Leonardo Co’s fault to do research in the forest while the army was conducting “regular patrol.” The story that he could have blown his captors to smithereens with a grenade is like telling our son that his father was kidnapped by alien forces of the Bozanian bourgeoisie.

It is unfortunate that while PNoy promises accountability and justice, the AFP remains untouchable. Jeepney drivers halt operations to protest spikes in gas prices, government calls them “perjuicio.” Students strike for greater state subsidy, government mockingly advices them to focus on their studies. Bewildered families call on the son of Ninoy to release all political prisoners—his government says these prisoners don’t even exist.

I guess like Ditto or Donat, we’d always be associated to this paper as its “imprisoned members” – “’yung mga taga-Kulê na kinulong.” But from the time the PSR** was serialized in the Collegian’s pages, people have come to realize how big a prison cell Philippine society really is.

--------------------

*Kerima Lorena Tariman, managing editor of the University of the Philippines student paper Philippine Collegian during AY 1999—2000, first served as one of the editors of the culture section under the editorship of Seymour Barros Sanchez.

**PSR - Philippine Society and Revolution by Amado Guerrero (Jose Maria Sison).

Artists to DOJ: free Ericson Acosta now!

2011-10-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

Artists led by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera (right); arts writer Pablo Tariman (partly hidden), TV and stage actor Nanding Josef (center) and Acosta's family tear down symbolic prison bars in a gathering organized by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines at the NCCA.

Oct. 14, 2011 Press Release, Free Ericson Acosta Campaign

Artists led by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) gathered at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) building in Intramuros today to call for the release of poet and cultural worker Ericson Acosta.

In an event dubbed “Kumustahan mula sa Piitan,” National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, painter Neil Doloricon, TV and stage actor Nanding Josef, screenwriter and actress Bibeth Orteza, film director Joel Lamangan and other supporters from the artist community reiterated their appeal to DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima to review Acosta’s case and to immediately withdraw the fabricated complaint against the detained artist.

Actor and former CCP Vice President Nanding Josef

Says Josef: “I know him (Acosta) personally as a cultural worker. I am humbled by his sacrifices and his commitment to the poor. This new administration is challenged to be different from its predecessors. Free those whose only ‘crime’ is genuinely serving the least served, and jail without delay those who have greedily taken away food on the table of the poor.”

NCCA officials; visual artists Karen Ocampo-Flores and Egai Talusan Fernandez; writers Jun Cruz Reyes and Pablo Tariman; musicians Karl Ramirez, Tony Palis and guitarists from the Quezon City Performing Arts group, and members of the Filipino Freethinkers, Kilometer64 Poetry Collective, Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan, Tudla Multi-media Productions, human rights advocates and other artist groups and individuals were also in attendance.

acclaimed film director and former political detainee Joel Lamangan

Lamangan and Lumbera were also detained during the Marcos dictatorship. Angelina Ipong of the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) who was imprisoned by the Arroyo administration for six years gave a brief account of her ordeal and incarceration as documented in "Garden Behind Bars," a collection of Ipong's prison writing.

SELDA Secretary General Angie Ipong

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. He is currently detained at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail.

A review petition was filed by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (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 Acosta. The petition states that the evidence against Acosta was planted and cited the military’s admission of human rights violations in the conduct of Acosta’s arrest and detention.

Acosta was brought to court for a scheduled arraignment last September 21 in Calbayog City. His legal counsel led by Atty. Jun Oliva of the (NUPL) moved to defer arraignment and proceedings pending the DOJ’s decision on the review petition.

Acosta is among the country’s political prisoners, numbering 354 as of August 2011. Human rights groups led by KARAPATAN and SELDA appeal to President Aquino to free all political prisoners through a general, unconditional and omnibus amnesty declaration.

National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera

National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera leads call to free Ericson Acosta

Concerned Artists of the Philippines, October 14, 2011

On the 8th month of Ericson Acosta's incarceration, a gathering of artists and cultural workers, led by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) was held today, October 14 at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts lobby, to press for Acosta's immediate release.

"Ericson should be granted freedom immediately so he can continue his work as an artist and as a cultural worker, " said Renan Ortiz, CAP spokesperson.

Acosta is a poet, songwriter, thespian, journalist and cultural worker. He was a former editor of the Philippine Collegian and culture writer of the Manila Times. As an artist and activist, he chose to work with the poor and the oppressed. On February 13, 2011, he was arrested while conducting human rights research. He was accompanied by a barangay official and was carrying only a laptop and some personal belongigs at the time of his arrest. He was detained in a military camp and subjected to 44- hours of interrogation with only two hours of sleep. He was levied with a trumped-up charge of illegal possession of explosive to justify his arrest and continued detention.

Actress Bibeth Orteza read her letter to Ericson Acosta

According to CAP Secretary-General and painter Neil Doloricon: "Even behind bars, Ericson surmounts the prison walls that try to curtail the creative prowess in him. A determined and committed artist, in pursuing one’s dream of a meaningful change in society, will try to survive the challenges in life that get in the way . The prison cell for Ericson has become a virtual studio for his literary and musical undertakings and he even shares his talent to his cellmates and wardens."

"Ang sining ni Ericson Acosta ay matatag na nakatuntong sa lipunan natin at ang liwanag na dulot nito ay dapat lamang suportahan ng pamahalaan na naglalayon unawain ang mga problema ng sambayanan," said Lumbera.

Ericson is among the 360 political prisoners in the country today, 77 of whom, including Ericson were arrested and detained under the new administration. Cases of illegal detention continue to increase under the younger Aquino's administration. This has been the situation even with the past administration of Corazon Aquino's granting of unconditional amnesty to political prisoners after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship, and P-Noy's approval of conditional amnesty to 400 alleged rebel soldiers.

TV actor and CAP board member Nanding Josef expressed: There are two things P-Noy and this present administration can do to improve the Filipino people's trust in them and prove that they're different from all the past national leaders: one, to immediately put behind bars all the shameless, greedy, corrupt, self-serving leaders who committed crimes against the poor by stealing everything that rightfully belongs to people; and two, to free all political prisoners, like Ericson Acosta, whose only crime is to side with the poor, to fight for their rights, to protect them from the abuses of the criminals who pass off as public servants, and to educate them on how to liberate themselves from the long years of deprivation and exploitation by a society that has continuously allowed big time thieves to get away with their crimes, but allows self-sacrificing people's heroes to rot in jail."

"P-Noy and his men and women can choose to be remembered in Philippine history as the just and fearless leaders who put the true criminals in jail, and set the real heroes free. We the people, will wait and see," said Josef.

Painter Egai Fernandez

To show their solidarity with the campaign to free Ericson Acosta and all political prisoners, artists and cultural workers, tore down symbolic iron bars to reveal a huge banner with the calls "Free the Artist! Free Ericson Acosta! Free All Political Prisoners!" Artists affixed their names and signatures on the banner to signify their support.

Doloricon added: "The Aquino regime should instead imprison those who block fundamental change and those who are fetters in developing a truly nationalist, popular and pro-people culture that signify the interests and aspirations of the Filipino people. (There is ) no doubt that Ericson will soon be free not only because he’s not guilty of any crime committed but also because he does not deserve this kind of treatment from a government which is supposed to protect and nurture the talents among its people."

Kumustahan mula sa Piitan

2011-10-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

KUMUSTAHAN MULA SA PIITAN

a gathering of artists to free ERICSON ACOSTA

October 14, 2011, 3pm

NCCA building lobby

633 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila

Ericson Acosta is a poet, songwriter, thespian, journalist and cultural worker. He was a former editor of the Philippine Collegian and culture writer of the Manila Times. As an artist and activist, he chose to work with the poor and the oppressed.

Ericson was arrested while conducting human rights research in Brgy. Bay-ang, San Jorge, Samar on February 13, 2011. He was detained in a military camp and subjected to 44- hours of interrogation with only two hours of sleep. His interrogators threatened to kill him. In a statement on Acosta's detention, the Amnesty International said death threats and prolonged sleep deprivation for the purpose of interrogation violate the United Nation's Convention Against Torture, which the Philippine government ratified in 1986. He is currently detained at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail.

Ericson was accompanied by a barangay official and was carrying only a laptop and some personal belongings upon his arrest. 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 spends in prison.

A Petition for Review filed by Acosta's legal counsel, the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) is pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ). His family and supporters urge DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima to act promptly and withdraw the charges against Acosta.

To press for Acosta's immediate release, the Concerned Artists of the Philippines will hold a gathering of artists entitled "Kumustahan mula sa Piitan," on October 14, 2011, 3pm at the lobby of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) building, 633 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila.

For details, please feel free to contact:

CONCERNED ARTISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Office Number: 02 - 4363683 ; 0908884 1170 (Walkie) ; 09497973556 (Ryan)

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

www.ncca.gov.ph / Trunkline: o2 - 5272192

POLDET: Ang Sining Bilang Testimonya ng Pakikibaka*

2011-10-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

ni Rommel Rodriguez sa Pinoy Weekly.com

Bumaba ang dalawang unipormadong militar sa lobby ng Vinzons Hall upang utusan ang mga manonood na umakyat na sapagkat magsisimula na ang multi-midyang produksyon hinggil sa mga bilanggong politikal.

Sa pag-akyat, ginamit na eksibit area ang bawat palapag at hagdan ng gusali. Ang simpleng espasyo’y naging lunan ng mga sining biswal na nagtatampok sa usaping politikal na kinasasadlakan ng bansa; extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, demolisyon, militarisasyon at ang tampok ng pagtatanghal: ang kalagayan at panata ng mga bilanggong politikal.

Masungit ang mga militar habang pilit na pinauupo ang mga manonood upang sabihing isang oryentasyon ang dinaluhan ng mga manonood hinggil sa programa ng pamahalaan. Sa huli’y matutukoy na ito na rin ang hudyat ng simula ng palabas.

Kapansin-pansin ang biswal na kulturang iniangkop ng produksyon. Inilangkap ang paggalaw ng mga anino at imahen sa telon sa mga pangyayari sa kasaysayan sa panahon ng pananakop ng imperyalistang Amerikano sa bansa. Naging tuon ang Samar kung saan isinagawa ang masaker sa mga batang 10 taong gulang- pataas ang edad bilang ganti ng Amerika sa matagumpay na pananalakay ng mga taga-Balangiga sa dayuhang hukbo noong 1901.

Ericson Acosta, nagsalaysay ng dula mula sa piitan

Sinaliwan din ng sayaw ang live na musikang nagtatanghal sa mga orihinal na musikang likha ng grupong kinabibilangan ni Ericson Acosta, isang bilanggong politikal na kasalukuyang nakapiit sa Calbayog Provincial Jail sa Samar. Gamit ang teknolohiya, nagawan ng paraan na isang bilanggo ang maging tagapagsalaysay ng dula. Bagaman siya’y nakapiit, hindi naging hadlang ang rehas upang dumaluyong ang kanyang malikhaing isipan. Sa pamamagitan ng sayaw, nagmistulang awit na rin ang bawat galaw upang isalaysay ang kalagayan ng mga bilanggong politikal; ang paghihimagsik ng mga anak ng lupa at ang paghawak ng tabak bilang tanda sa pagbuwis ng buhay ng mga nagtatanggol sa aping uri ng lipunan.

Bonifacio Ilagan

Gamit ang monologo, itinampok din ang mga naging bilanggong politikal, partikular sa panahon ng batas militar. Dito nagsilbing testimonya ang sining upang ilahad nina Judy Taguiwalo at Bonifacio Ilagan ang kanilang naging karanasan sa piitan at kung bakit hanggang sa ngayo’y nagpapatuloy sila sa pakikibaka tungo sa paglaya ng mga bilanggong politikal at ng bayan. Hindi naging epektibo ang piitan upang tumigil sila sa pakikibaka. Sa halip, ito pa ang naging daan upang manatili sila sa paglahok sa pambansa-demokratikong kilusan. Iniluwal ang kanilang sining sa piitang inakalang magpapatahimik ng kanilang rebolusyonaryong adhikain.

Vencer Crisostomo at Axel Pinpin

Maging ang mga sumunod na henerasyon ng mga nakilahok sa mga naunang sigwa’y ipinagpapatuloy ang diwa ng rebolusyonaryong pakikibaka. Walang pag-aatubili ang pananalita ni Vencer Crisostomo hinggil sa pagiging anak, hindi na lamang ng kanyang mga magulang, kundi ng mismong bayang kanya ngayong pinaglilingkuran. Magpapatuloy ang sining bilang daluyan ng testimonya ng mga bilanggong politikal tulad ng naranasan ni Axel Pinpin sa loob ng piitan kung saan ang sumagip sa kanya’y ang mga talinghagang binigkas ng kanyang tugmaang matatabil.

Jess Santiago

Inawit naman ni Jess Santiago na sa Pilipinas lamang nagaganap ang mga kakatwang pagbansag sa mga palayaw na tumuloy sa pagsuri sa bayang hindi naiwawaglit ang alaala ng karahasan at paglaban. Kaugnay nito ang testimonya ng tinaguriang Morong 43; mga manggagawang pangkalusugang pinaratangang miyembro ng New People’s Army na hinuli at tinortyur. Sa saliw ng makapangyarihang tinig ni Aki Merced, matagumpay na nailahad na hindi sila natinag na gamutin, hindi lamang ang mga maysakit sa kanayunan, kundi ang mismong kanser at nagnanaknak na sugat ng bayan.

Natapos ang produksyon na mataas ang moral, hindi lamang ng mga nagtanghal, kundi higit lalo, ng mga manonood. Sa huli, napatunayan na ang artista kapag pinagbabawalan lalong lumalaban, kapag ipinipiit, lalong naghihimagsik. At tulad nga ng sabi ng mga bilanggong politikal, maaaring makulong ang rebolusyonaryo, subalit hindi ang rebolusyon.

pamilya ni Ericson, kasama si Prof. Judy Taguiwalo

*Itinanghal sa UP Vinzon’s Hall, September 30, 2011
direksyon ni Donna Dacuno, direksyon sa musika ni Roselle Pineda at Divine Leano
sama-samang itinanghal ng Alay Sining, Karatula, Sinagbayan at People’s Chorale sa pakikipagtulungan ng NCCA, KARAPATAN at SELDA.

-------------------------

Mga Larawan ni Jo Santos

Detained artist brought to court on Martial Law anniversary

2011-09-20T18:13:00.000-07:00

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. ###