CHR kinontra ng Palasyo sa red-tagging kay Doc Naty

ni ROSE NOVENARIO

MAGKASALUNGAT ang pananaw ng Malacañang at ng Commission on Human Rights (CHR) sa isyu ng red-tagging laban kay Dr. Maria Natividad “Doc Naty” Castro na dinakip sa kasong kidnapping at serious illegal detention saka inakusahang mataas na opisyal ng Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Nanindigan si acting Presidential Spokesman Karlo Nograles na hindi biktima ng red-tagging o tinatakang makakaliwa si Doc Naty dahil may espesipikong mga kasong isinampa laban sa kanya.

“We’ll refer you to the statement of DILG Secretary Año ‘no and the facts of the case. Una sa lahat hindi po iyon dahil sa “sinasabing red-tagging.” If you look at the facts of case, it is — the arrest was made by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by a regional trial court for serious illegal detention and kidnapping. So may specific crime po that was the cause of the warrant of arrest issued by the RTC court,” ayon kay Nograles sa pulong balitaang kahapon sa Palasyo.

Iginiit din ni Nograles na dumaan sa proseso ang mga kasong isinampa laban kay Doc Naty at nabigyan umano ng oportunidad ang kanyang kampo na ipagtanggol ang doktora.

Para kay Nograles, kung may mga reklamo ang kampo ni Doc Naty sa paraan ng pagdakip sa kanya ay magsampa sila ng reklamo.

“Again, the arrest warrant was issued by the court. But even previous to that, dumaan po ito ng proseso ng investigation ng prosecutor and at every avenue and at every opportunity nabigyan po ang mga abogado ng pagkakataon – they had all opportunities to contest it from that point na nag-preliminary investigation, if they did not agree with the findings ng prosecutor, they also had legal remedies after that hanggang dumating na nga sa korte at finayl (file) at (i)sinampa sa korte,” paliwanag ni Nograles.

“And now it has — now that the warrant of arrest as issued by the RTC court was served, it will now take the judicial process and may legal remedies din po doon. So we understand as stated by Secretary Año that maraming abogado ang nagre-represent kay Doc Naty at they would, as lawyers, should know all of the legal remedies available to them,” dagdag niya.

Ang pahayag ni Nograles ay taliwas sa sinabi ng Commission on Human Rights (CHR) na si Doc Naty ay biktima ng red-tagging ng mga awtoridad bunsod ng kanyang trabaho bilang human rights defender at development worker.

“CHR is concerned with the manner of arrest, particularly in the alleged lapses in procedure by the PNP in serving the warrant of arrest and likewise the red-tagging of Dr. Castro for her work as a human rights defender and development worker,” ayon sa kalatas ng CHR kamakalawa.

Nagpahayag din ng pagkabahala ang CHR sa paraan ng pag-aresto kay Doc Naty na inilutang lang ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang kanyang kinaroroonan matapos mag-ingay sa media ang pamilya at mga kaibigan ng doktora.

“CHR notes with concern that in the case of Dra. Naty, it was only after significant media coverage, national attention and messages of support from members of the public did the Philippine National Police (PNP) finally decide to reveal the whereabouts of the accused to her legal counsel and to CHR investigators,” anang CHR.

“Under the PNP’s 2021 revised Police Operational Procedure, arresting officers are duty-bound to identify themselves and show proper identification; deliver without delay the accused to the nearest police station and ensure that the person arrested is informed of his/her rights to counsel.”

Binigyan diin ng CHR, ang insidenteng ito’y nagpahiwatig ng pananakot hindi lamang sa hanay ng community workers kundi maging sa mga doktor na naglilingkod sa mga liblib na pook alinsunod sa sinumpaan nilang tungkulin na bigyang lunas ang kanilang mga pasyente.

“This incident sends a chilling effect not only to community workers, but also to doctors serving in rural areas engaged in development work, in line with their Hippocratic Oath, to do what’s best for their patients,” sabi ng CHR.

Tiniyak ng CHR, mananagot ang pulis kapag napatunayang may mga paglabag sa pagdakip kay Doc Naty.

“Should these allegations prove to be true, arresting officers are not only liable for violation of PNP’s operations procedure, but also in violation of the rights of persons arrested and detained under Republic Act No. 7438.”

Maghahain ng petition for bail ang Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) para sa pansamatalang paglaya ni Doc Naty, ayon kay FLAG Caraga chairman Wilfredo Asis.

Tatambakan aniya ng FLAG ng kaso ang mga pulis na umaresto kay Doc Naty dahil hindi ipinakita ang kopya ng arrest warrant, hindi nakasuot ng uniporme at hindi nagpakilala nang dakpin ang doktora.

“They were practically acting like criminals themselves,” sabi ni Asis sa panayam sa The Chiefs sa One News kamakalawa.

Mistula aniyang inilihim ng mga awtoridad ang mga kaso laban kay Doc Naty, wala silang natanggap na preliminary investigation notice at hindi rin tinukoy kung sino ang naghain ng kaso laban sa doktora.

Itinakda ng korte ang pagdinig sa 4 Marso 2022, Biyernes.