Manila: Political prisoners and their relatives have intensified a weeklong hunger strike in the Philippines, as activists call on President Rodrigo Duterte to release all 400 political detainees ahead of the holiday season.

“The nationwide hunger strike, in prisons and at solidarity fasting centres nationwide, which began on December 3, will be lifted in time for a major protest rally in Manila on Saturday,” said Karapatan (Rights) head Cristina Palabay, adding that thousands will join the rally nationwide.

“We want President Duterte not to give conditions for the release of all political prisoners — that the National Democratic Front (NDF), the negotiating arm of the 46-year old Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), must sign a joint ceasefire agreement with the Philippine government,” said activist Lorna Baron.

She was one of the activists who offered free hugs and kisses to the public at the solidarity fasting centre on Manila’s Mendiola Street on the eve of Human Rights Day.

The new style of “soft protest rally” was resorted to so that President Duterte could show “love and support” for all political prisoners in the country.

Meanwhile, Secretary Jesus Dureza, head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process said, “Necessary legal processes for the release of the political prisoners take a while as cases are within the jurisdiction of the judiciary, an independent and co-equal branch (of government).”

“We are appalled why some sectors are now even publicly attacking government for (allegedly) ‘not delivering enough’ and for the perceived delay (in the release of political prisoners), said Dureza, adding, “Putting undue public pressure on the government which has already taken unprecedented steps may not yield their intended results.”

As of December 3, 150 political prisoners in 13 jails across the country started to fast and launched various forms of protests. The number of protesters has grown nationwide by the day, Palabay said.

They protested the death of several ailing and ageing political prisoners who should have been released since Duterte called for the resumption of peace talks between the Philippine government and the NDF after he sat in office in early July, Palabay explained.

As of October 31, there were 401 political prisoners nationwide. The number went down to 400 after the death of Bernabe Ocasla, a sickly political prisoner who succumbed to cardiac arrest last November 28, 2016.

Duterte’s release of dozens of political prisoners resulted in the latter’s participation in peace talks that were held abroad last October.

The Philippine government and the NDF have been holding on and off peace talks since 1992.