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MANILA (TO UPDATE) – Malacañang on Thursday ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development to protect the welfare of the one-month-old son of the arrested Amanda Echanis, daughter of the murdered peasant leader Randy Echanis.
Authorities arrested Amanda, 32, with her baby before dawn Wednesday for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
“I call on DSWD to take steps to ensure the well-being of the child is protected,” said Presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
“That is not the reason why for having a child, he will not be imprisoned and will not be subject to the process. But it is always the rule that the government will take action in the best interest of the child,” he told reporters.
(Having a child is not a reason for him not to be imprisoned or subjected to the process.)
Amanda is a peasant community organizer and the youngest daughter of Randy Echanis, who was murdered in August.
The militant group Anakpawis said that Amanda’s arrest is illegal and that the alleged evidence was placed.
“We affirm that Echanis was arrested on the basis of planted evidence. She has just given birth to her first child. We ask for her immediate and unconditional release on just humanitarian grounds,” Anakpawis said.
His father was killed by a group of unidentified gunmen inside his home in Novaliches, Quezon City.
In October, the 3-month-old baby of another jailed activist, Reina Mae Nasino, died after their separation.
“Well, I hope that doesn’t happen again,” Roque said of Baby River Nasino’s death.
(I hope it does not happen again).
Heavily armed jail officers guarding Nasino during his daughter’s funeral had refused to remove his handcuffs despite pleas from his family and human rights defenders.
Nasino, a member of the urban poor group Kadamay, was arrested in November 2019 with 2 other people for alleged illegal possession of firearms, charges she claims were fabricated and part of an offensive against left-wing activists.
In April, she petitioned the Supreme Court to release her from jail on humanitarian grounds amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Nasino gave birth while in jail in July, but her baby was removed from her care and brought to her mother in August. The following month, her baby fell ill and was hospitalized, prompting calls for mother and son to meet.
Nasino did not see River again until his death.
Queen Nasino, Baby River, Amanda Echanis, arrest, Cagayan, Amanda Lacaba Echanis, Randy Echanis
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