BY BULATLAT
The Department of Justice opposed the medical request of political detainee Randall Echanis, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP-Philippine Peasant Movement) said.
Echanis is the KMP deputy secretary general for external affairs. He was arrested in April this year for trumped-up charges of murder. He is now detained at the Manila City Jail.
The medical request is supposed to be heard today by Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32. The hearing has been reset on October 27.
Echanis, 60, is suffering from hypertension. His doctor has requested for his confinement at the Philippine Heart Center.
Ranmil, son of Ehanis and spokesperson of the Free Randall Echanis Movement (FREEDOM) said, “It is really not appropriate for his age and health to stay at the Manila City Jail…he really needs regular medical check-up, the confinement request is really urgent.”
“The DOJ is really trying to kill my father,” the young Echanis deplored. “How could someone oppose a medical request? They could only do so if their main goal is to kill my father by letting him die of diseases inside the Manila City Jail,” he added.
Danilo Ramos, KMP secretary general said, “We’re anticipating something like this, we know that Secretary Raul Gonzalez and [Gloria Macapagal-] Arroyo are ruthless, inhumane and sadistic.”
“This is really Oplan Bantay Laya II at work. We just hope that Judge Bunyi-Medina does not succumb to the pressure of Arroyo and the DOJ,” said Ramos. (Bulatlat)
