Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) condemned the alleged “tanim baril” incident against Pertinisa Charito, a farmer and wife of political prisoner Leon Charito. The incident marks a new modus operandi to harass the families of political prisoners in our country, a press release from HRAN said.
Pertinisa Charito, 55 years old, an active member of National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) and KAPATID (families and friends of Political Detainees) was allegedly carrying a small pistol inside the jail facility of BJMP San Carlos District Jail.
“Tanim baril” and “tanim bala” were notorious in several incidents in airports and seaports, as well as in warrant factory courts that were used in raids and search of offices of democratic people’s organizations and in joint military and police checkpoints. HRAN took notice of the incident as a highly dubious scheme.
Her husband Leon Charita who still languishes in jail, is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, which they claim are trumped up. On September 18, 2019, he and his companions were conducting an information drive on the upcoming commemoration of the Escalante Massacre when they were stopped at a checkpoint in Crossing Jonobjonib, Escalante City.
Pertinisa Charita participated in the submission of cases to Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, last month in Cebu CIty. HRAN regards the incident as retaliation of the NTF-ELCAC against those who submit complaints to Khan.
HRAN called for the dismissal of the trumped up charges and the release of Pertinisa Charita and all political prisoners.*
