Philippine President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III crested into office five years ago on a promise that his regime will be gloriously different from that of his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The scion of a political family known far and wide as a challenger to the highly repressive Marcos regime, Aquino vowed to end impunity and human rights violations in the Philippines.

Yet nearing the end of his presidency, Aquino has shown only empty rhetoric. Intensifying militarization of communities, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, attack on schools and the persecution of political opponents, activists and human rights defenders are living testaments to the Aquino regime’s growing fascism and escalating violation of human rights. 

The number of illegally arrested and detained political prisoners in the Philippines has grown to an alarming number. As of June 2015, there are 48 women political prisoners out of almost 500 political prisoners in the Philippines, more than half of whom have been imprisoned during the current administration.

Writer-activist and former GABRIELA officer Sharon Cabusao is the latest woman human rights defender illegally arrested and detained by Aquino. Sharon was arrested without a warrant on fabricated charges using planted evidence on June 1, 2015 following a midnight raid and illegal search of her house. She was arrested together with her husband, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Adelberto Silva, and their aide Isidro de Lima.

Sharon is suffering from Chronic B12 Deficiency Anemia, a health condition that requires constant medical attention, a specially-prepared diet and plenty of exercise. Her incarceration gravely limits her access to her health needs and exacerbates her condition due to the daily physical and mental stress of being in jail, a situation shared by many of the ailing and old women political prisoners.  

The incarceration of Sharon Cabusao is a patent violation of her human rights and a direct threat to her health. Prison is never a place for the likes of Sharon and other women human rights defenders; freedom is. The attack on staunch women human rights defenders like Sharon is an attack against all women. The fight for their freedom is a fight for our own. 

Free our sisters! Free ourselves!

FREE SHARON CABUSAO! FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!

Defend civil liberties! Defend women’s rights!