MANILA, Philippines – Hours after the Manila Regional Trial Court allowed political detainee Reina Mae Nasino to stay at the wake until the burial of her baby, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Manila City Jail has sent a letter to the court asking that it limit her visit.
In its letter sent hours after the court issues its ruling, Manila City Jail Officer-In-Charge Maria Ignacia Monteron told the court that they cannot compromise the security and safety of other persons deprived of liberty who are still seeking their assistance.
She said they only have 12 personnel being utilized as an outside force, which is tasked with coordinating with other agencies, turning over released PDLs to their respective barangays, and serving as escort duty when there is a need to bring a PDL to the hospital.
“As of today, we have 665 PDL who are under our custody, thus, we are depleted of personnel,” she said.
While she said the death of baby River saddens her, she asked the court to make Nasino’s visit be lessened from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. instead of 24 hours only on Oct. 14 and her next visit be on the burial which is on Friday. But she said Nasino would not be allowed to stay at the cemetery for more than three hours, citing BJMP’s 2015 Manual.
Despite the order issued Tuesday morning, the Manila Court again scheduled a hearing for Wednesday morning.
Atty. Edre Olalia, president of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) representing Nasino, denounced Monteron’s actions.
“The warden’s puny excuse to clip Ina Nasino’s three-day furlough cannot supersede and defy a clear and executory order of a court of law,” he said.
“With the resources of government, does it need an army to escort a grieving mother in deep bereavement and treat her like a hardened armed and dangerous serial criminal,” he asked. [ac]
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