Press Statement
April 3, 2004



JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED
POLITICAL PRISONERS ARE SUFFERING

Sometimes the Holy Week passes by without any reflections on what it is about.

Jesus was a political prisoner. Jesus was a torture victim.

Jesus showed in his life that all humans are worthy in the sight of God. He lived with the poor and the oppressed. When the religious and political powers moved to silence Jesus, he was arrested – at night just after his prayers. He went through a mock trial and sentenced to death. After torture by scourging, Jesus was crucified and summarily executed. Jesus’ life and death exposes the inhumanity of the powerful and the oppression of poor peoples.

In our country now, there are 244 political prisoners, including 10 women, 6 elderly and 5 minors. Some 31 of them suffered torture in the hands of supposed protectors of the people. Some were beaten, electrocuted, strangled and almost killed with cellophane wrapped around their heads.

And we do not say anything.

“Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute.
Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and the needy.”



Task Force Detainees of the Philippines
Central/Eastern Visayas Region
3rd floor Booc-Virtudazo Bldg.
F. Martir St., Lapulapu City
Tel. No. 341-4207