BJMP slammed for preventing detainee-mom’s media interviews

Detained activist and urban poor advocate Reina Mae Nasino visits the wake of her 3-month-old daughter River at La Funeraria Rey in Pandacan, Manila, on Wednesday, October 14, 2020. The Manila Regional Trial Court granted Nasino a furlough but shortened it from three days to two days (October 14 and 16, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.)  RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — It is illegal for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to prevent detainee Reina Mae Nasino from speaking to members of the media covering her child’s wake, the National Union of Journalists (NUJP) said Wednesday.

“The incident, in which four of Ms. Nasino’s BJMP escorts surrounded her in an attempt to block her from being captured by cameras and clearly interviewed by reporters, is as abusive as it is illegal,” NUJP said in a statement.

“We demand an immediate and transparent investigation into this incident and for sanctions to be leveled against both the unit commander who either ordered or failed to prevent this gross violation of civil rights and the personnel who obeyed, willingly or not, a clearly illegal order,” it said.

In a phone interview, BJMP Jail Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said interviews are not allowed during Nasino’s visit so that it would not affect the detainee’s case.

“Iyong interview ng PDL [person deprived of liberty] hindi po ina-allow iyan. Hindi iyan ina-allow kasi lalo na both parties, kasi iniiwasan natin na ma-touch iyong mga details ng kaso at saka ang ipininunta doon para sa lamay ng anak at hindi naman para magpa-interview. Wala doon sa orders e,” Solda told INQUIRER.net when asked about the allegations of NUJP against the personnel.

(Interview with PDL is not allowed. We do not allow that because both parties, we are avoiding that the details of the case will be affected and the PDL went there to visit her baby, not for an interview. That’s not in the orders.)

Meanwhile, Solda said their organization is open to any request of the investigation against their members.

“As far as the BJMP is concerned, we haven’t received a formal request for an investigation. Should there be a request or concern, open naman ang BJMP (we are open.) Based sa report na na-receive, ang objective naman madala siya sa lamay. (Based on the report, the objective was to bring her to the wake.),” he said.

“That’s the mission yesterday and our field personnel was able to deliver what was expected from them,” the BJMP spox added.

The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 47 earlier shortened Nasino’s furlough from three straight days to only two days — Oct. 14 and 16, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The court decided to amend its order after Manila jail authorities cited a lack of personnel.

Nasino was detained in 2019 during a raid by the Manila Police District at Bayan-Manila office. Nasino was also one month pregnant during the arrest. The operation was launched through a search warrant by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 89.

Nasino is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, which she said were “trumped-up charges” because law enforcers planted the evidence during the raid. [gsg]