This file photo shows Reina Mae Nasino and Baby River, whom she lost in detention in 2020. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — No mother should ever be separated from her child, said Reina Mae Nasino, who was released Thursday, December 22, after being locked up for three years.
While in jail for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, Nasino gave birth to her daughter River in July 2020.
She sought to either be freed temporarily or allow River to stay inside the Manila City Jail so that she could take care of her. However, her requests were not granted by the court.
When River showed COVID-19 symptoms, Nasino pleaded with the court to let her visit her sick child. But River died at the intensive care unit of the Philippine General Hospital hours before the court could take action.
It was only this year that Nasino, along with two other activists, was released from detention after a Manila court granted their bail petition.
READ: Court grants petition for bail of Reina Mae Nasino, other political prisoners
“Wala naman ina na dapat mapalayo sa anak. Dapat hindi talaga maulit ‘yun dahil hindi lang ako ‘yung nakaranas no’n, marami pang kababaihan na nakakaranas no’n na iligal na inaaresto tapos nilalayo sa anak,” Nasino said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel on Friday.
(No mother should be separated from her child. That should never happen again. I am not the only one who experienced it, many mothers have also experienced that, being illegally arrested and being taken away from her child.)
While she expressed elation that she obtained her freedom before Christmas, Nasino lamented how the country’s justice system took too long to take action.
“Sa akin, pag binabalikan ko ‘yung nangyari, siyempre dismayado ako sa sobrang tagal ng justice system dito sa atin. ‘Yung proseso na ganung kalagayan sa atin, may pumipigil sa paglaya namin. Kahit gusto ko takbuhin anak ko, hindi ko magawa kasi nakapiit ako,” she said.
(For me, when I look back at what happened, of course I am dismayed that our justice system here is too slow. With the process, it seemed like something was preventing our freedom. Even if I want to go to my child, I couldn’t do that because I was detained.)
“Kami rin ‘yung nakaranas, personal din namin naranasan, kaya mas tumindi ‘yung pakiramdam tuwing naiisip ko na mabagal talaga at bulok talaga yung justice system,” Nasino added.
(We experienced it personally so I witnessed how the justice system is slow and dysfunctional.)
She then called on authorities to stop their alleged illegal arrests, saying that not all could afford to fight back.
“Panawagan ko lang sa awtoridad ay itigil ‘yung iligal na pag-aresto sa mga tao dahil siyempre wala rin kakayahan ‘yung iba na lumaban din,” she added.
(I call on the authorities to stop illegally arresting people because not all can afford to fight back.)
Nasino said she and her colleagues will continue to fight for their case and fight for their freedom.
“Alam naman namin na lalaya kami. Ang tanong ay kung kailan? Gano’n naman lagi kasi alam namin na inosente kami pero ‘yung pagpipigil nila sa amin, sa umpisa pa lang ilegal na ‘yung pag-aresto nila sa amin kaya ano pang aasahan pa namin sa hustisya na sila din na nagbabatay kung paano ‘yung paglaya namin?” she said.
(We know that we will be freed because we’re innocent. The question is when? Especially when our arrests are illegal and then it is them who will decide how and when we will be set free.)
“Sa amin, siyempre kailangan na patuloy na lumaban, ilaban namin kasi kung pananaigin namin ‘yung takot, ‘yung pagkaduwag, walang mangyayari. Ngayon, hindi naman ako napanghinaan ng loob sa laban namin, tatlong taon kaming nakulong,” she added.
(For us, of course we need to continue the fight. We will fight because nothing will happen if we let fear take over. For me, I did not falter although we were detained for three years.)
The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 47 on Thursday issued a release order for Nasino, Alma Moran, and Ram Carlo Bautista after posting a premium of the bail bond imposed by the court.
The surety bond, amounting to P282,000, was paid by the Karapatan-Kapatid human rights network with the surety firm.
Karapatan-Kapatid said they could only pay for surety bonds, saying it is “impossible” to raise the entire bail amount of P1.14 million before December 25.
Judge Paulino Gallegos of the Manila RTC earlier set bail for Nasino and Moran at P420,000 each and Bautista at P570,000.
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