Mariano Umbrero, 63, a political prisoner at New Bilibid Prison (NBP) has passed away today at NBP hospital due to cancer.

Tatay Umbrero, as he was fondly called inside NBP, had a big heart. Those who knew him said he had helped those in need and stood up for the weak. He was a farmer in Lallo, Cagayan.

There are many lessons to be learned from the story of Tatay Umbrero. His story was so infused with inspiration and tells us a fundamental truth that would unrestrained by prison walls, that is when you help others, you are never alone.

Tatay Umbrero has been dying to taste freedom through executive clemency. He was in detention at NBP since 2004.

Lord, we come together to pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Tatay Umbrero,

May the soul of Tatay Umbrero and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God,

Rest in Peace.

9 responses to “Requiem for justice, Requiem for Tatay Mariano Umbrero – Medical Action Group”

  1. TO: PRESIDENT NOYNOY AQUINO (MALACANANG)
    SEC. TERESITA QUINTOS-DELES (OPAPP)
    SEC. LEILA DE LIMA (DOJ)
    CHAIRPERSON LORETTA ROSALES (CHR)
    MR. JOHN LANA (JEMC)

    DATE: February 14, 2011

    FROM: POLITICAL PRISONERS
    (RPM-P/RPA-ABB, CPP-NPA, MLPP, MILF,MNLF)

    Matagal na panahon na po ang lumipas nuong huling nagpalaya ang Pamahalaan ng Republika ng Pilipinas ng mga kapwa naming alleged political prisoners/political offenders (APOs/PPs). Hinihintay po namin ang pagsasakatuparan ng nilagdaan Terms of Reference sa ilalim ng Resolution No.1, Series of 2009 ng Joint Enforcement and Monitoring Committee (JEMC) sa pagitan ng GRP at RPM-P/RPA-ABB.

    Nakasaad po sa ika-limang bahagi ng nabanggit na na Terms of Reference ang kagyatang pagpapalaya at pagbabasura sa mga kaso naming mga APOs/PPs. Kaakibat ang iba pang mga pangkabuhayang proyektong ilalaan sa amin. Ngunit hanggang sa ngayon po ay karamihan parin sa amin ay narito parin sa bilangguan.

    Kami po na mga Political Prisoners ay buhay na katibayan sa pagiging abnormal ng lipunang Pilipino. Kami ay naniniwalang hindi kami dapat narito sa loob ng pambansang piitan kung naipapatupad lamang ang ating pamahalaan ang tunay na esensta ng demokrasya sa ating bansa. Ang aming mga pampulitikang pananaw ay tinabunan ng mga kasong kriminal bilang bahagi ng pagkakaila ng ilang nasa kapangyarihan na may mga Binganggong Pulitikal sa ilalim ng isang “demokratikong lipunan”.

    Karamihan po sa amin ay hinuli habang kasalukuyang gumgampan ng mga pampulitikang gawaing iniatag ng aming organisasyon kinabibilangan. Nakakabahala ang mga pangyayaring na ang aming pampulitikang aksyon batay sa aming paniniwala ay unti-unti ng nawawalan ng puwang sa ating lipunan.

    Kami ay patyloy na naninindigan sa aming kampanya ng pagpapalaya sa lahat ng mga Bilanggong Pulitikal na walang tinatanging organisasyong pinagmulan. Kami ay nananawagan sa inyo upang bigyan ng espesyal na atensyon ang aming mga usapin. Hinihingi din namin na sana ay inyong ipagpatuloy ang plano ng dating chairperson ng CHR na si Sec. Leila de Lima ng pagtatayo ng isang komite sa ilalim ng CHR na tututok sa mga usaping may kaugnayan sa aming mga Political Prisoners.

    Kaya’t kami po na mga Political Prisoners ay nananawagan sa inyo upang kami ay tuwangan upang itulak, ipursige at isakatuparan ang nasabing resolution. Gayundin, kami ay tumitindig para sa pananatili ng Joint Enforcement and Monioting Committee (JEMC) upang subaybayan at ipatupad ang mga nilalaman ng Peace Agreement. Higit sa lahat kami ay patyloy na nananawagan sa pagpapalaya ng lahat ng APOs/PPs na walang tinaranging organisasyong pinanggalingan.

    Kami po ay umaasang inyong mapagtutuunang pansin ang usaping ito sa ngalan ng kapayapaan, dignidad at katarungan.

    Mabuhay po kayo at maraming salamat po.

    (SIGNED)
    1. Alcon, Rodel
    2. Apoluna, Edgar
    3. Ascarraga, Sherniel
    4. Balawag, Saiban
    5. Balneg, Christopher
    6. Baltazar, Antonio
    7. Barado, Apolonio
    8. Constantino, Florentino
    9. Dela Cruz, Lloyd
    10. Enocerta, Cresenciano
    11. Fuentes, Teodoro
    12. Itaas, Juanito
    13. Ismael, Bas
    14. Jandul, Alzen
    15. Libuna, Reynaldo
    16. Matricio, Manolito
    17. Naga, Mamasao
    18. Pauti, Abdul Fatah
    19. Rodas, Darwin
    20. Roleda, Generoso
    21. Sarad, Diony
    22. Secretario, Merami
    23. Sirri, Javier
    24. Umbrero, Mariano
    25. Ungsod, German Josue
    26. Vargas, Dante
    27. Vidar, Armando
    28. Villanueva, Julio
    29. Yunos, Moklis

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  2. UNLESS THE YOKE OF EXPLOITATION AND OPPRESSION ARE BROKEN, WE ARE ALL PRISONERS!

    The struggle to effect the release of Political Prisoners/ Alleged Political Offenders (PPs/APOs) in the Philippines has been an arduous work to do knowing that under the present system of society, the struggle for change to improve the lives of the poor, oppressed and exploited masses has been suppressed by the State using its political apparatus (Executive, Legislative, Judiciary, Prison, Court, Police & Military) and this is the major reason why freedom fighters, human rights advocates and revolutionaries are being arrested, criminally charged, and detained, in fact, under a class society like the Philippines, the State is always an instrument used by the ruling class to suppress the subordinate class. But once they are arrested and detained, they will face another world of struggle in a limited showground but very hard to overcome. It is a struggle against personal loneliness, social alienation, political demoralization, economic deficiency, family dislocation and most of them, the worries on how to win battles inside the courtroom. The truth of the matter under the current system of society, everyone is a prisoner (the yoke of poverty and oppression) both those outside and inside detention center and unless the yoke of exploitation and oppression are broken, we are prisoners!

    As of March 3, 2003, REHAS Inc. has monitored 190 Political Prisoners/Alleged Political Offenders (PPs/APOs) who are still languishing in 58 different detention centers all over the country. There are many political prisoners across the country if we are going to pool together all data from TFDP, KARAPATAN, PAHRA, MAG, BALAY, and other human rights organizations. The government through its judicial branch, charges the APOs/PPs of common crimes, despite that the act they committed were in pursuit of their political belief. Some were arrested and detained because of mere suspicion that they were associated with a revolutionary organization. Jail situations remain to be a place not suited for human being (not well ventilated, seldom PPs are exposed to sun light, insufficient supply of food, no recreation center and most often, PPs are being harassed by jail guards, visitors are being taxed by jail guards, etc.), the very reason why there is a need for prison reforms. Another problem face by PPs/APOs is the cost of hiring a “competent” lawyer to handle their cases, and posting bail bands, such demands expensive fees, in which families and relatives can’t afford. Families and relatives seldom visited their love ones in jail because of economic difficulties. The split within the progressive movement has also contributed negative impact to APOs/PPs, their next of kito n and to the over-all fight to free all political prisoners in this country and therefore, the need to unite all these groups into one call and first time in the history after the split that sometime on February 14, 2011, REHAS through the effort of Juanito Itaas, we were able to unite the said PPs from various blocks (RPM-P/RPA-ABB, CPP-NPA, MLPP, MILF and MNLF) into one common call which resulted into a joint manifesto signed by them calling the Office of the President, DOJ, OPAPP and CHR to release all political prisoners regardless of political affiliations. If the APOs/PPs have already started to unite among themselves, I think there is no reason that political blocks and cause-oriented groups and revolutionary parties in this country cannot also unite for a common call and that is to help free all political prisoners in this country.

    The call to free all alleged political offenders and political prisoners is a legitimate demand, not merely a tactical call, but must be a continuous fight because there will always be political prisoners as long as the system is not change.

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