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MANILA, Philippines – Lawyers providing free legal services to political detainee Queen Mae Nasino have filed a case for “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” by the jailed activist against police and prison officials, saying the abuse of the Nasino’s rights were evident during her burial. three-month-old daughter, River Emmanuelle, last week.
In a supplemental motion filed in Section 47 of the Manila Regional Court of First Instance, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), a legal group that provides free services to the poor, said police and officials from the Office of Administration of Prisons and Penology (BJMP) “contumably exacerbated their cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” of Nasino on October 16, the day of River’s burial, in the Manila North Cemetery.
Nasino, who faces a charge of illegal possession of firearms that her lawyers say was fabricated, was separated from her baby, River, on October 9. River later died of pneumonia.
The baby died without seeing her mother and despite pleas on humanitarian grounds for Nasino to be temporarily released to be with her daughter. She was later released on leave, but only for three hours last week for the wake and burial.
NUPL said that at least 43 jail officers and police “kidnapped” and “requisitioned” River’s burial and denied Nasino and his family the opportunity to mourn and peacefully bury River.
Lawyers said police vehicles, a SWAT truck with a machine gun and a fire truck had been dispatched to River’s funeral and sped up the hearse carrying the baby, prompting mourners to chase him. The group also cited as a form of abuse the refusal by police and jail officials to remove Nasino’s handcuffs amid pleas from his lawyers and his priest to allow him to hold his daughter for the last time.
“As the defendant would remain fully handcuffed throughout the burial, she was unable to wipe her own tears with dignity, take sips of water on her own, and hug her daughter,” the NUPL motion said.
“The prison guards closely flanked the accused on all sides and crowded the place, displacing Nasino’s mother, Marites Asis, and the immediate relatives of the accused,” he added.
The supplemental motion was filed by NUPL attorneys Edre Olalia, Ephraim Cortez, Julian Oliva Jr., Josalee Deinla, Katherine Panguban, and Maria Sol Taule.
The group of lawyers added that some 20 policemen from the Manila Police District, wearing camouflage uniforms, prevented Nasino’s supporters from entering the funeral home despite the family’s wishes.
NUPL denied BJMP’s claims that it lacked personnel to escort Nasino, who was considered high risk.
“This demonstrated the inordinate disdain of the BJMP and the PNP for the pain and suffering of the accused, as well as a total disregard for human feelings, alien to public sensibilities, and a complete lack of respect for our eternally observed culture in times of deep mourning, ”said the motion.
These injustices, according to NUPL, should not go unpunished and forgotten, NUPL said.
Protests and calls for justice for River and the release of Nasino and other political prisoners spilled over Friday when the baby was buried in the Manila North Cemetery. The hashtags #FreeReinaMaeNasino and #JusticeforBabyRiver are now trending online.
TSB
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