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Baby River Nasino’s wake. Kapatid Photos
MANILA, Philippines – It should have been a day of mourning when Baby River was brought to its final resting place, but the occasion was overshadowed by the heavy presence of prison guards and law enforcement officers tasked with providing safety to the mother. political detainee, Queen Mae Nasino. .
Baby River was buried at 3 p.m. Friday at the Manila North Cemetery, a week after her death due to complications from gastroenteritis at the Philippine General Hospital.
The human rights group Kapatid lamented that prior to the burial, elements from the Manila Police District (MPD) allegedly “hijacked” the funeral by delaying burial rites. At one point, the group said that about 20 law enforcement officers guarding La Funeraria Rey in Pandacan, Manila, where the baby’s wake was held, allegedly delayed the release of River’s remains.
“They wanted to bring the baby only at 1 pm because that was the time when the police said the blessing would take place in the church,” reads the statement from Kapatid, an organization of relatives and friends of political detainees.
The group said the funeral home chose to pay attention to the police, not the Nasino family.
The coffin was eventually carried outside and placed in the funeral car, which suddenly sped up at 12 noon, thus ruining the family’s plans to hold a funeral march and take the coffin to the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals.
“The comrades in the back cursed when we were forced to run behind. But we couldn’t catch up. Separated, ”the statement read.
(Some were cursing because we were all forced to run after them. But we couldn’t catch up. We were separated).
The vehicle carrying River’s coffin was also seen to be guarded by dozens of police officers in the cemetery.
LOOK: The hearse that transports Baby River in the Manila North cemetery while the police line up outside. @inquirerdotnet Photos and videos of Kapatid pic.twitter.com/hKTva8EM3q
– Tetch Torres-Tupas (@tetchtorres) October 16, 2020
Handcuffed to the final moments with Baby River
At the cemetery, the detained mother Nasino, who was handcuffed and dressed in full personal protective equipment, took one last look at her daughter hours before putting the baby to bed.
Attorneys and Nasino’s mother, Marites Asis, were calling for the handcuffs to be removed to at least allow Nasino to wipe away his tears and cry properly.
Baby River Nasino’s wake. Kapatid Photos
“How can tears be wiped away when both hands are handcuffed?” Asis asked.
(How can you wipe your tears when you have both hands in handcuffs?)
LOOK: Lawyers and Marites, Reina Mae’s mother asks that her handcuffs be removed so she can hug her daughter. @inquirerdotnet Kapatid Video pic.twitter.com/57eReB4ac4
– Tetch Torres-Tupas (@tetchtorres) October 16, 2020
After the tension, the grieving activist, still breaking down in tears, delivers her final message to her daughter.
“You have many memories of me […] I will be released more firmly, we will be released more firmly. We are not alone here. Our pain is short lived[…] but we will prepare for our return. We will get up, ”Nasino said.
(I have many memories with you. I will be set free, we will all be free. We are not alone. Our sorrows may be quick, but let’s be ready. We will get through this).
LOOK: Queen Mae Nasino says goodbye to her three-month-old son. @inquirerdotnet Kapatid Video pic.twitter.com/306GjQxHIh
– Tetch Torres-Tupas (@tetchtorres) October 16, 2020
‘More men in uniform than family’
More than the emotional struggle of the mother to see her daughter buried, it was the police and the staff of the Bureau of Penitentiary and Penitentiary Management (BJMP) who drew attention, especially because their number exceeded that of the relatives of the deceased and assistants.
Kapatid Photo
“There were more men in uniform than family and friends. They know this because they planned it this way. The priest asked the police forces to remove the handcuffs so that ReinaMae could reach out her hands to hug the coffin. But nothing, ”Kapatid said.
The group said that around 50 prison guards and only police personnel were bodyguards for Nasino, who was believed to be being held on “trumped-up” charges.
BJMP spokesman, jail chief inspector Xavier Solda, said around 43 people were dispatched to secure Nasino in his last moments with his baby.
LOOK: BJMP escort of 22 years Reina Mae Nasino. while attending the funeral of her 3-month-old son. DILG Usec. Epimaco Densing said the security agreement “is not exaggerated.” @inquirerdotnet 📷 courtesy of Atty. @soltaule pic.twitter.com/V73rqLZv0r
– Tetch Torres-Tupas (@tetchtorres) October 16, 2020
“Given the expansion of the area, around 43 staff members from different prison units, including PNP personnel, were deployed there in compliance with court orders to secure PDL Nasino and ensure that any adverse incident at the scene (to ensure there are no adverse incidents in the area), ”Solda said in a text message.
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