By Juliane Judilla
The family of Tomas Dominado Jr., 74, and several human rights groups are calling for his release on humanitarian grounds, citing severe health issues.
Dominado was arrested during a police operation conducted by the Iloilo City Police Office on Dec. 5 in Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo City.
Authorities described him as a high-ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines and a former secretary of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay. A companion was also detained for illegal possession of firearms under the Anti-Terrorism Law.
Police said the operation aimed to capture Dominado, who faces charges of rebellion and murder. He was also designated a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council in April 2021, along with 18 others.
His family, however, appealed to authorities to consider his deteriorating health.
“He suffered a major stroke last year and several minor strokes before that. At 74, he is bedridden, with high blood pressure for almost a week, and he can barely stand or sit on his own,” a relative told Daily Guardian.
The family also urged authorities to ensure Dominado receives proper medical care while in detention.
Several groups, including Panay Alliance Karapatan and Kapatid Panay, along with human rights advocates, academic institutions, and religious leaders, issued a joint statement demanding Dominado’s release.
“We firmly assert that the charges against him are baseless, fabricated, and politically motivated,” the groups said in their statement.
“This is an example of the systematic misuse of judicial processes to silence activists,” they added, denouncing what they termed the “criminalization of dissent.”
The organizations called for an end to red-tagging and the targeting of political activists, advocating for the release of all political prisoners detained for their beliefs.
“Dominado’s case underscores a dangerous trend that criminalizes activism and silences dissent. We demand the release of all political prisoners unjustly detained for their beliefs and activism, ensuring that justice prevails and human rights are upheld.”
Dominado is the husband of Ma. Luisa Posa-Dominado, a veteran activist and advocate for people’s rights. She was abducted by unidentified armed assailants in April 2007 and remains missing to this day.
