CHR looking into Nasino case, ‘deeply concerned’ on how gov’t is handling it

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 to see her baby for the last time, however, reducing her original request of three straight days to only two days, October 14 and 16, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day. RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday said it is looking into the case of detained human rights worker Reina Mae Nasino as it also expressed concern on how the government is handling her case.

“The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is deeply concerned with how government authorities are handling the case of human rights worker Reinna Mae Nasino,” CHR spokeswoman Atty. Jacqueline De Guia said in a statement.

De Guia added that the commission, through its investigation office, is looking into the case and “also considering that there are allegations that her detention is a form of harassment due to her human rights work.”

Nasino, 23, and two other activists were arrested at the Tondo, Manila office of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in November 2019 and were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives, which is a non-bailable offense.

The detainee’s lawyers, however, claimed that the firearms and ammunition, plus a hand grenade, seized during the police operation were planted.

But Nasino’s case caught media attention as she was separated from her newborn daughter, River, who was born on July 1. River was later diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.

River died on Oct. 9, while her mother was asking the court to let her see her.

The Manila Regional Trial Court earlier shortened the furlough it gave to Nasino to visit her daughter from three straight days to only three hours in a day for two days: from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to attend the wake on Oct. 14, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for her daughter’s burial on Oct. 16

Tension marred Nasino’s visit to the wake of Baby River on Wednesday when her police escorts prevented her from being interviewed by members of the media.

With this, De Guia reminded the government that Nasino “remains to be an accused and thus, still presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.”

“Even in detention, persons deprived of liberty should not be subjected to any cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and that it remains to be a State obligation to respect their inherent dignity and value as human beings, in line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners or the Nelson Mandela Rules,” she added.

The CHR spokeswoman also extended its sympathies to Nasino and her family for Baby River’s death.

“As duty-bearers, we would have expected officers of the government to have put in mind the best interest of the child,” she said.

/MUF