Cascolan on Nasino’s tight security: ‘Cops just doing their job’

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.  RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan on Wednesday said personnel of the Manila Police District (MPD) only performed their duty during the burial of Baby River, the three-month-old daughter of detained activist Reina Mae Nasino.

Cascolan reacted to comments that Nasino was heavily guarded by police officers during her child’s burial.

In an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the inauguration of the Civil Security Group’s satellite office in Manila, Cascolan said police officers perform their jobs according to what the situation requires.

“Situations are different from each other. Alam niyo po, ang pulis natin magreresponde lang naman ‘yan depende sa sitwasyon (Police only respond according to the situation),” he said when sought for comment on criticisms on the number of police officers and personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) who were deployed to escort her during the burial of Baby River last Friday.

“Gusto po nating mapaigting ang ating ginagawang mga activity para maprevent po natin ang kriminalidad. Ginagawa lang po ng pulis ang kanilang trabaho,” he added.

(We want to intensify our activities to prevent criminality. Police officers are just doing their jobs.)

Baby River was buried at the Manila North Cemetery last Friday. She succumbed to respiratory illness on October 9 while Nasino was in detention.

Kapatid, a support group for families of political detainees, earlier said that prior to the burial, personnel of the Manila Police District “hijacked” the child’s funeral by delaying the burial rites. The group said some 20 police officers guarding the La Funeraria Rey funeral home in Pandacan, Manila, where the wake was held, slowed down the release of River’s remains.

Nasino, 23, and two other activists were arrested at the Tondo, Manila office of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in November 2019 and were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives, a non-bailable offense. Nasino, however, said the charges were trumped-up and that the evidence recovered from them was planted.

/MUF