Tagagamit:BSrap/Death of River Nasino

Death and funeral of River Nasino

Petsa	9 Oktubre 2020 (2020-10-09)
Dahilan	Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Libing	16 Oktubre 2020 (2020-10-16) Manila North Cemetery

River Nasino (July 1, 2020 – October 9, 2020) died in a Manila hospital after suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome while her mother Reina Mae Nasino was detained for illegal possession of firearms and explosives. The baby's death sparked sympathy while the condemnation targeted towards the treatment of Reina Nasino.

Background

A 23-year-old human rights worker Reina Mae Nasino and two other activists were arrested at Tondo, Manila in November 5, 2019 and they were detained at the Manila City Jail for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, a non-bailable offense. However, the detainees' lawyers asserted that the firearms and other weapons were planted. During the custody, the baby was born prematurely on July 1, 2020 at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital and was later diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. She pleads that the baby to allow stay on her side until at least six months old. The baby was forcibly separated on August 13, 2020, despite the pleas that the baby is not healthy to separate a breastfeeding infant from her mother. A month later, River was brought to the hospital after she had shown signs of COVID-19; she tested negative for the virus. She died on October 9, 2020. At the day of the baby's death, her mother asked to the court to let her see his daughter.

Funeral

The Manila Regional Trial Court gave Nasino only six-hour furlough (three hours for the wake and another three hours for the burial), which was reduced from three days, to allow her to visit her daughter's funeral. The funeral of River was laid in October 14, 2020 at the La Funeraria Rey in Pandacan, where the police had already deployed 20 personnels there, as well as SWAT members. Reina Nasino visited wake of her daughter, wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) and her hands were cuffed. Only the family members were allowed inside the wake. Nasino was also caught in the video begging on her knees on the police to allow the procession to start at 11:30am, an hour before Nasino's three-hour furlough would start. In addition, the police barred the progressive groups from holding the placards outside the funeral home. However, tension arose when the police escorts prevented her from interviewing the media. A video from CNN Philippines showing the hearse carrying River's remains sped up during the procession leaving the relatives behind. The police denied the allegations of maltreatment, saying that the deployment of personnel was to ensure the safety of the detainee.

It was reported that 43 police personnels were deployed for the burial of the baby. During the burial of the baby at the Manila North Cemetery, Nasino's parents and lawyers plead the police to remove her handcuffs so she can hug the coffin for the last time but the police refused. The mother of detainee, Marites Asis, expressed her displeasure over what happened to the burial and they are forced to run after the hearse sped up.

In the aftermath, the Nasino family planned to file the case against the personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the "grotesque and barbaric" act against the detainee.

Reactions

On October 15, 2020, The College Editors Guild of the Philippines denounced the treatment of political detainee and held Duterte government liable for human rights violation in the country.

The hashtag #JusticeForBabyRiver and #FreeReinaMaeNasino, as well as #OustDuterteNOW became trending on Twitter in October 16, 2020. Vinz Simon on Anakbayan said "Today we etch in our memory the image of a mother grieving in handcuffs, chained, and surrounded by her child’s murderers. This regime deserves no mercy from the wrath of the Filipino people." Arlene Brosas of Gabriela also condemned the police handling of River's funeral a "brutal takeover". Karapatan blamed the Duterte administration for the baby's death, and also slammed the reduction of her furlough, calling it "gross injustice and heartless." Carlos Conde of the Human Rights Watch also condemned the baby's death.

Vice President Leni Robredo expressed sympathy to the death of the baby, and also called the police surveillance of the funeral an "overkill." Local celebrities including Anne Curtis and her sister Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Bianca Gonzalez, and director Antoinette Jadaone condemned the police handling to the burial. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that the case against the detained activist will proceed and also added that "we sympathize with the accused for her personal loss." Migrante International called for the justice of the baby and the release of the detainee. Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno said, on his Twitter account, that "Pano kung ikaw yon: nilayo sayo ang anak mong agaw-buhay, tapos ganto [sic] pa gagawin sa bangkay nya" (lit. "What if it was you: your dying child was taken away from you, then will do more to his corpse"). Renato Reyes Jr. of Bayan reacted on the burial, stating that "we will never forget this."

In October 18, 2020, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Celine Pialago, through her Facebook account, said that Nasino's supporters "should scrutinize who the detained activist is" and added that the public support for grieving activist a "drama serye" (transl. "drama series"). However, Pialago's statement sparked outrage from social media for "disrespect" and "zero empathy" towards the grieving mother and her baby.