The militant Anakpawis Party-list on Tuesday confirmed that Paolo Colabres, its paralegal “illegally arrested and detained” for a week, tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after the result of its swab testing came out on Monday.
Colabres was securing the remains of assassinated Anakpawis National Chairperson and National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis last week when he was illegally nabbed by the elements of the Quezon City Police District. He was charged with “obstruction of justice” and detained for a week at Camp Karingal until his release on August 18 after posting P36, 000-worth of bail.
In a statement, the Anakpawis blamed the QCPD for “endangering the health of Colabres through illegal arrest and detention.” There were reports that inmates in several jails are COVID-19 positive.
“If not for Colabres’ illegal arrest and prolonged detention, he would have not acquired the coronavirus. We pin the blame on the QCPD for compromising his health by placing him in a congested jail, and moreover, for the delay of his release. The QCPD did not only endanger the health of Colabres, but also the entire prison population,” Ariel Casilao, former Anakpawis Party-list Representative, said in a statement.
