The Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Thursday raised serious concern over the lack of facilities to secure the survival of children who have been born of mothers in detention for commitating a crime or facing trial in courts.
IBP President Domingo Egon Cayosa raised questions about the country’s justice system following the death of a three-month-old child who was separated from her mother, a detained activist, weeks after birth.
“The tragic death of 3-month-old Baby River Nasino highlights the need to do more, better, faster in the justice sector,” Cayosa said in a statement.
“Why can’t our justice system safeguard the needs and rights of an innocent child to breastfeeding and a better chance to survive?”
River was the daughter of 23-year-old activist Reina Mae Nasino, who was arrested almost a year ago on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. River died of pneumonia on Oct. 9.
Nasino was given three hours on Wednesday to step out of the Manila City Jail Female Dormitory to attend her infant daughter’s wake, but her visit was marred with tension when her guards tried to pull her out before the furlough was up. She will also be allowed to attend River’s burial for another three hours on Friday.
The IBP official lamented the lack of facilities for children and women detainees in the country’s jails as required by law.
He also denounced what he described as “double standards” in the treatment of “bigger” detainees who are receiving greater privileges than the others.
“Why does it take so long to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights? Can we not have justice with compassion?” Cayosa said.
“Let our concern, dismay, or rage and the tears that we may shed for Baby River Nasino fuel our collective determination and action to improve our justice system. Let not our innocent children fall through the cracks. Babies have rights and we have duties to nurture them. Let our humanity rise above our personal comforts or the privileges of power.”
Meanwhile, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, which represents Nasino and other activists in court, slammed jail authorities for their “deception and overkill.”
Though the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology had sought a shortened furlough for Nasino on account of a supposed lack of personnel, dozens of jail staff and police officers ended up accompanying her at the wake.
The NUPL said around 47 jail and police officers, some with high powered firearms, escorted Nasino.
“The jail guards flanked Ina wherever she went and refused to let her speak with her family and counsel or view her baby in private. Except for a few minutes, Ina’s hands were shackled,” the NUPL said in a statement.