Where is Dr. Castro? FLAG ‘gravely concerned’ about red-tagged doctor’s whereabouts after arrest

Ma. Natividad Marian Castro —PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK OF JUN CASTRO

MANILA, Philippines — The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) on Saturday expressed “grave concern” over the whereabouts of a doctor who was accused of being a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and arrested by the police.

Dr. Maria Natividad Castro was arrested by the police on Friday through a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court of Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur on January 30, 2020 for alleged kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

However, rights group Karapatan said Castro is a health worker who helped in setting up community centers and programs in Mindanao and trained many human rights workers for several years.

FLAG, who was retained as counsel by Castro’s relatives, said they sought access to the doctor at the Intelligence Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame where she was reportedly brought and detained.

According to FLAG National Chairperson Chel Diokno, Castro’s sister and another lawyer was not allowed access to the doctor.

“Upon inquiry, police officers from the Intelligence Group informed FLAG that Dr. Castro was no longer at Camp Crame as she was supposedly ‘brought to the airport’ to be ‘delivered to the court’ in Butuan City,” Diokno said in a statement.

He said family members then proceeded to the airport but did not see her there, and that the scheduled flight to Butuan took off without any confirmation of Castro being on board.

Diokno said requests for copies of the warrant of arrest, reports and documents related to Castro’s arrest and transportation “went unheeded.”

“Throughout the whole afternoon and continuing to the present, none of her relatives or lawyers have been able to gain access to Dr. Castro and no official confirmation from her captors, the PNP, has been made as to her whereabouts. Dr. Castro has been denied access to her counsel and to her family, in violation of her rights under the Constitution and the law,” said Diokno.

“She was also denied her medication for her hypertension and diabetes because the police refused to allow her sister who wanted to bring her medicines and test kits to have access to Dr. Castro,” he added.

Castro’s present whereabouts are “unconfirmed and thus unknown,” according to the FLAG official. She was last seen by her relatives at the PNP Intelligence Group office at Camp Crame.

“FLAG is gravely concerned as to the whereabouts of Dr. Maria Natividad Castro,” Diokno said.

FLAG demanded that the PNP confirm Castro’s whereabouts, present her physically, and grant access to her family and counsel within 24 hours.

“Failing which, the appropriate criminal and administrative suits will be filed,” said Diokno.

The lawyers’ group also demanded that Castro be provided access to medical and mental healthcare by a doctor of her choice.

“Finally, FLAG demands that an official investigation be conducted identifying all those responsible for denying family members and counsel access to Dr. Castro and for the PNP to submit a report on action taken within 48 hours,” the group added.

INQUIRER.net sought the comment of the PNP through its spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

EDV