Dear Sisters,

Warm greetings of solidarity!

Recent data in the Philippines highlights yet another form of human rights violations that begs our attention and concern -- the issue of Political Prisoners. This is in the backdrop of the alarming state of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the Philippines.

According to reports from KARAPATAN National Alliance for Human Rights, the number of political prisoners in the country has swelled to about 232, from the first quarter of 2001 to November 2007. GABRIELA, upon this writing, has listed up to 24 women political prisoners under the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In most cases, political prisoners have experienced abduction, illegal arrest and detention, inhumane treatment in prison and prolonged incarceration under baseless accusations and charges by the military.

Such is the case of Angelina "Angie" Bisuña Ipong, now 63 years old, a peace advocate who devoted her life to the cause of peace and human rights.

On March 8, 2005, Angie was in a meeting with peace advocates and lay volunteers when more than ten armed men wearing bonnets and fatigue shorts abducted her. The men identified themselves as police-CIDG. Upon abduction she was handcuffed, blindfolded, and then brought to Bulacan Tabak Division Headquarters, where she was subjected to continuous interrogation and harassment. For 14 days Angie was in complete isolation. Upon her unjustified arrest she was further subjected to violation of the rights of an arrested person, among them unjustified detention, sexual abuse and torture.

Angie remains incarcerated at the Pagadian City Jail in Zamboanga del Sur, detained in a small prison cell with 15 other women prisoners accused of common crimes.

Innocent civilians like Angie and the many other political prisoners continue to languish in jail despite baseless charges against them while. She herself has been in jail for two years, eight months and eighteen days on the basis of trumped-up charges while convicted criminals like Joseph Estrada and US Corporal Daniel Smith, the US marine who raped a Filipina, are freed.

Angie remains true to her calling despite her difficult situation. Angie, the organizer, the teacher has organized her inmates to engage in productive activities including sewing, planting flowers and organic vegetables, cooking and selling snacks. Angie's personal endeavor is to make greeting cards, it keeps her occupied and presents an opportunity for her to express her ideas and ideals. Families and friends help sell these cards to spread her thoughts and to help raise funds for her needs.

Help FREE Angie Ipong. Spread her story, her struggles and her fight for freedom. Please write letters of appeal on her behalf to the President of the Philippines, send Angie letters of support. Let us expose her life in prison. Her story may bring out more cases of human rights violations in prison.

Should you choose to adopt the campaign please inform GABRIELA through email --international relations@gabrielaphilippines.org or gabwomen@yahoo.com. Your support to the Free Angie Ipong Campaign is a support to other political prisoners in the country.

Thank you very much!

FREE ANGIE IPONG!

JUSTICE FOR ALL WOMEN POLITICAL PRISONERS!

STOP HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!

For the women,

GABRIELA International Relations Department