If you think the mixed martial arts (MMA) fight between actors Baron Geisler and Kiko Matos is just a clash of egos, think again. It was revealed that the fight is a fundraising event for a detained UP student.
Universal Reality Combat Championship founder and president Alvin Aguilar said that the fight is a charity event that aims to raise funds for political prisoner Maricon Montajes’s bail.
Montajes is a Film student from UP who was detained after she was accused of being a member of the New People’s Army. She was in Taysan, Batangas in 2010 to research for her thesis when the 743rd Combat Squadron of the Philippine Air Force raided a community and captured Montajes and two other people. She is considered as the youngest political prisoner.
Aguilar added that both actors agreed on donating proceeds to a charity. They both decided to donate it to Montajes’s bail, which is set to P800,000.
To date, there are over 562 political prisoners in the country, imprisoned for their political belief and causes. Out of 561, 82 are sick 50 are elderly, and 136 are aged 18 to 35. Seventy-five prisoners were captured when they were young.
What do you think of Geisler and Matos choosing to raise funds for Montajes’s bail? Share your thoughts below!
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