Charges may be filed vs cops who arrested doctor – CHR

 Dr. Maria Natividad “Naty” Marian Castro —PHOTO COURTESY OF Menchi Castro

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) can file administrative or criminal charges against erring arresting officers should it be found that protocols were violated in the arrest of Dr. Maria Natividad “Naty” Castro.

CHR commissioner Leah Armamento on Monday said that while Castro’s arrest was “valid” since it was done by virtue of a court-issued warrant, the commission is still looking into how the apprehension was conducted.

“Because there’s an allegation that some are not in uniform, they were not properly identified and then the force employed is more than is required…There are protocols in the conduct of the arrest,” she said in an ANC interview.

“We can file charges, administrative or criminal, against erring police officers, the arresting officers, the team,” she added.

Armamento said there had been instances where the CHR filed similar charges before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“If there are offenses that are within the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice, we also file it with the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice,” she added.

Castro, who extended free medical services to residents in remote areas, was accused of kidnapping a member of the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary.

The CHR, in an earlier statement, said Castro, “had been red tagged for her work as a human rights and development worker.”

She was arrested by the police on Friday through a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court of Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur for alleged kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

“The CHR is there, continuously monitoring so that no harm or violation on human rights is being committed against Dr. Naty,” Armamento added.

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