Malaya Canada urges PH gov’t to release all political prisoners

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
December 25, 2025

FREE THEM. Malaya Canada issued a Christmas statement on Thursday, urging the Philippine government to free all Filipino political prisoners this holiday season (Dec. 25, 2025). (Photo Courtesy: Malaya Canada/Facebook)

OTTAWA, Ontario — Malaya Canada released a Christmas statement urging the Philippine government to release all political prisoners this holiday season.

The group said Thursday it stands in solidarity with Filipinos who are continuously subjected to political persecution as they exercise their democratic rights in peaceful pursuit of justice.

“For many years, Malaya Canada has actively campaigned for the release of all political prisoners in the Philippines. Through annual fundraising initiatives, Malaya Canada has supported political prisoners and their families with the help of donors, friends, allies, community organizations, and individuals. Malaya Canada remains committed to this advocacy and will continue until all political prisoners are freed,” it said.

Citing reports from human rights watchdogs, Malaya Canada asserted political persecutions in the Philippines show consistent “patterns of arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, and violations of due process in these cases.”

“According to Karapatan – Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights, there are currently 696 political prisoners detained across the Philippines. Karapatan reports that many of these detainees are activists, community organizers, farmers, Indigenous leaders, journalists, and peace advocates who have been arrested on politically motivated charges,” the group said.

The Filipino migrant group also specified Mary Jane Veloso’s case, a recognized human trafficking victim, who has now spent her first Christmas in the Philippines in detention since her return to her homeland a year ago from Indonesia.

“While she was spared execution in Indonesia and returned to the Philippines, she remains incarcerated. Her continued detention reflects the broader injustice faced by political prisoners,” the group said.

Malaya Canada, along with other Filipino migrant groups and human rights advocates, stated they still remain hopeful “as the Filipino people continue to call for genuine freedom, democracy, and peace based on justice” and that “through collective voice, determination, and resolve, the struggle continues—until justice is achieved and victory is won.”