MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) - The "Morong 43" health workers began a hunger strike on Friday to push for the immediate withdrawal of charges against them and their immediate release.

Kin and sympathizers of the health workers held a picket in front of the Department of Justice along Padre Faura in Manila to call on government and President Aquino to act on the recommendations of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima contained in an internal memorandum submitted to the president during the first week of October.

The kin and sympathizers of the Morong 43 will also hold a hunger strike in solidarity with the detained health workers.

For her part, De Lima said she will submit another memorandum to the president today (Dec. 3) and said her recommendations will be within the bounds of law and in accordance with correct proceedings.

Representatives of the World Council of Churches also held a dialogue with De Lima regarding the Morong 43's plight.

The groups in support of Morong 43 include the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Karapatan, Gabriela, and the Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance.

High morale

In an interview with ANC’s Dateline Philippines, the group’s legal counsel Edre Olalia said his clients are high in morale despite being in detention for 10 months.

“Mataas ang moral nila at sila ay determinado sa kanilang hunger strike hangga't makamit nila ang kanilang karampatang kahilingan na hustisya,” Olalia said.

Olalia said that some of his clients who are old, ill or have a disability will ensure that their condition would not be aggravated by the hunger strike.

“Pero syempre nagiingat din sila na hindi ito lumala ay kalibrado naman yung pag-hunger strike doon sa may mga kapansanan. Hindi naman sila sasabak sa isang kalagayan na mapipinsala sila lalo na sa usapin ng kalusugan nila,” he explained.

Not simple fasting

Olalia said the hunger strike is not going to be a simple case of fasting.

“Ito ay talagang wala silang kakainin maliban lang siguro kung kailangan ng medical assistance pag umabot na sitwasyon na kailangan,” said Olalia.

The health workers said they are banking on Aquino's earlier statement that he believes their arrest was based on a defective warrant.

“Hindi lang pag-asa. Actually, kahilingan batay sa isang prinsipyado at karapat-dapat na posisyon. Hindi talaga naman ito pabor na hinihingi namin kung di batay lamang sa katarungan dahil kinilala naman ni Pangulong Aquino na mali yung nangyari sa Morong 43.”

“Nasa pwesto siya na iwasto yung kamalian na ginawa ng nakaraang administrasyon at nasa pwesto din siya malinaw na mayroon siyang kapangyarihan na iutos yung kanyang Department of Justice na i-withdraw na ang mga asunto laban sa aming kliyente,” Olalia said.

The health workers were conducting a seminar in a resort house, owned by a doctor connected with the Philippine General Hospital, in Rizal province last February when they were rounded up by a joint team of the Philippine Army and the local police.

Authorities said the supposed raid yielded explosives, bomb-making components and subversive documents.

The health workers said the items seized from the resort house were "planted evidence."

“Certainly they are not as alleged as NPA rebels. So to justify the arrest, plinantahan sila ng evidence at sinampahan sila ng false charges,” Olalia said.

The health workers have been transferred from Army detention to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

“Sa panahon naman ni Presidente Aquino maiwasto na yung walang katarungan na pag-detine sa aming kliyente,” he said.

Palace: Not much to tell

Meanwhile, a Palace official said there isn't much Malacañan can tell the hunger-striking Morong 43 health workers now, except that something is being done.

This was deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte's reaction to the declaration that the 43 began a hunger strike on Friday.

Valte said the hunger strike came as a surprise.

"We would just like to assure the Morong 43 something is being done to rectify the situation," she said.

Valte said even the President has doubts on the warrant that covered the arrest.

Valte said the justice department has made its recommendations, assuring the group they have the government's attention.

She, however, noted that the case is already in court, and that any withdrawal of charges will be subject to its approval.

Valte said the families of the detainees have been meeting with the senior Deputy Executive Secretary Amor Amorado.-- with reports from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News; ANC; abs-cbnNEWS.com