Seniors in Canada For Senior Tatay Gerry: Dear Supreme Court

  • Page Views 440
  • My last Tinig Migrante column in the past issue of Philippine News Today was on “Senior
    Citizen: Gerardo Dela Pena (Tatay Gerry)” and this column follows up on that. I shared his
    story with another senior friend of mine, Orval Chapman. He is a retired schoolteacher,
    active in his community, and in social justice.

    We read the letters from Kapatid, the support group of families and friends of the political
    prisoners, that were delivered to the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The letters were
    about implementing the Writ of Kalayaan and the appeal to get Tatay Gerry out of
    prison. Orval and I decided to send our own letters by email, July 5, to Chief Justice
    Alexander Gesmundo and Associate Justice Marvic Leonen to support the campaign of
    Kapatid. In our letter, Orval Chapman and I wrote:
    We write to ask for your help in expediting the release of Mr. Gerardo dela Pena,
    also known as Tatay Gerry, who is currently detained at the Minimum-Security
    Compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. We understand that he was
    transferred there last year after nine years in the Maximum-Security Compound.
    We follow the reports of Kapatid, the support group of the families and friends of
    political prisoners, and we are concerned about Tatay Gerry’s health. Tatay
    Gerry, at 84 years, is the oldest political prisoner, and he is doing poorly, his
    eyesight is not good, and his hearing is deteriorating.

    We ask that the Supreme Court institutionalize the extraordinary legal remedy of
    the Writ of Kalayaan so that this protective writ can be invoked for political
    prisoners like Tatay Gerry to address the poor conditions of detention,
    deteriorating health, and redress problems of injustice.

    Reports on the Writ of Kalayaan, as expressed by Kapatid in their letter to your
    office, “give hope to families of political prisoners that this can be an answered
    prayer for those in the order of precedence for possible release…. these include
    minors when arrested, the very elderly and those with life-threatening health
    conditions, pregnant and nursing mothers, and those serving long sentences.”

    We hope that the Writ of Kalayaan can help bring Mr. Gerardo (Tatay Gerry) Dela
    Pena home to his family very soon. And the other political prisoners in extreme
    need of relief that can be provided by the Writ of Kalayaan. We hope for good
    news on Tatay Gerry’s case.

    Sincerely yours, Orval Chapman and Erie Maestro |
    British Columbia, Canada.

    On July 10th, the Supreme Court responded through the Judiciary Public Assistance
    Section of the Supreme with: “Greetings! We acknowledge receipt of your email and
    are pleased to inform you that the proposed rules on the Writ of Kalayaan is being
    worked on by the Committee. Best, JPAS Team, Judiciary Public Assistance Section
    (JPAS) Supreme Court of the Philippines.”

    We hope that the Supreme Court finishes its work on the Writ of Kalayaan because it
    is urgent for Tatay Gerry and for the other political prisoners who are elderly, sick,
    and in need of this protective Writ.

    The same goes for the officials of the Philippine Bureau of Corrections who promised to
    speed up the release of Tatay Gerry on humanitarian grounds, before Tatay Gerry
    becomes totally blind, deaf, demented, and dies in prison.

    If you want to add your voices to those appealing for the release of Tatay Gerry, please
    send your letter of concern to the Supreme Court at [email protected].

    You can also support the work of KAPATID and
    visit https://www.facebook.com/kapatid.politicalprisoners. Let us help bring Tatay Gerry
    home to his family. ###

    Share

    New Posts Recently publish post More

    • Here's a story with my byline for PST, and again, it's about the continuing feud between the Marcos and Duterte camps. Please use headshot photos of BBM and Sara.
      12 January 2025
      3 weeks ago No comment

      What’s at stake for BBM, Sara in 2025 midterm elections

      On May 12, some 68 million voters will cast their ballots in the 2025 midterm elections in the Philippines. Up for grabs are more than 18,000 positions. These cover 12 senators, 254 district representatives, 63 party-list representatives, and 17,942 governors, provincial board members, mayors, and councillors. The exercise will ...

    • 23 December 2024
      1 month ago No comment

      Mission/Vision FCCHS

      The Fil-Can Cultural Heritage Society of FCCHS is a non-profit organization established for the purpose of engaging the Filipino-Canadians to immerse themselves in the rich heritage of their ancestors. Our vision is to actively participate, celebrate and promote Filipino cultural and social heritage and values to the various Surrey communities and ...

    • Members & Officers of the PMB holding the City Proclamation of IMD at the CIty Hall in Barrie, Dec 17. (Photo credit: PMB)
      23 December 2024
      1 month ago No comment

      International Migrants Day Proclaimed in BC and Barrie, Ontario!

      Victoria, B.C. — The Province of British Columbia proclaims December 18 as International Migrants Day in the whole province to recognize the contributions of migrants to the province as well as the many challenges they face in Canada. The Provincial Proclamation was witnessed and signed by the Honourable Janet ...

    • I'm hoping you can let me share the spotlight with Pareng Rey in this story about the "75 Faces of Migration". I'm sending here a photo of mine and for caption, just use my name: Carlito Pablo.
      17 December 2024
      2 months ago No comment

      PNT’s Rey Fortaleza and Carlito Pablo honoured in 75 Faces of Migration

      The “75 Faces of Migration” tells inspiring stories of Filipinos in Canada and their remarkable journey. The initiative is a joint undertaking by the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines and the Philippine Embassy in Canada. The storytelling project is one of the highlights of the celebration in 2024 ...

    • 12 December 2024
      2 months ago No comment

      PNT’s Rey Fortaleza and Carlito Pablo honoured in 75 Faces of Migration

      The “75 Faces of Migration” tells inspiring stories of Filipinos in Canada and their remarkable journey. The initiative is a joint undertaking by the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines and the Philippine Embassy in Canada. The storytelling project is one of the highlights of the celebration in 2024 ...