{"id":3877,"date":"2022-02-21T18:04:59","date_gmt":"2022-02-21T10:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csspsinag.wordpress.com\/?p=3877"},"modified":"2022-02-21T18:04:59","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T10:04:59","slug":"community-worker-dr-castro-unconstitutionally-detained-in-agusan-del-sur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/02\/21\/community-worker-dr-castro-unconstitutionally-detained-in-agusan-del-sur\/","title":{"rendered":"Community worker Dr. Castro &#8216;unconstitutionally\u2019 detained in Agusan del Sur"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>FLAG asserted that the denial of Dr. Castro\u2019s access to her counsel and her family is a \u201cviolation of her rights under the Constitution and the law.\u201d She was also denied her medications for hypertension and diabetes as officers hindered her sister who brought medicines and test kits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n<!--noteaser-->\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-thumbnail\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/by-bryan-valdez.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/by-bryan-valdez.png?w=97\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3879\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On February 18, Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) issued a statement demanding the Philippine National Police (PNP) to confirm the whereabouts of Dr. Natividad \u201cNaty\u201d Castro \u2014 a detained barrio doctor, red-tagged by the state forces \u2014 and elaborate the cause of her arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>READ: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/csspsinag\/posts\/3235430486676538\"><strong>facebook.com\/csspsinag\/posts\/3235430486676538<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Castro\u2019s relatives reserved FLAG as the doctor\u2019s counsel since the arrest at her home in San Juan City. She was reportedly detained at the Intelligence Group, Camp Crame, where authorities denied access to any relatives or any lawyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later on, FLAG was informed by police officers that Dr. Castro was no longer at Crame and was \u201cbrought to the airport\u201d bound to \u201cthe court\u201d of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte. \u201cThe scheduled flight took off without any confirmation of Dr. Castro being on board,\u201d FLAG stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Requests for copies of the documents related to Dr. Castro\u2019s arrest also went \u201cunheeded\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>FLAG asserted that the denial of Dr. Castro\u2019s access to her counsel and her family is a \u201cviolation of her rights under the Constitution and the law.\u201d She was also denied her medications for hypertension and diabetes as officers hindered her sister who brought medicines and test kits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, Dr. Gene Nisperos highlighted that the arrest warrant did not indicate her correct name; nor did the arresting personnel identify themselves properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Castro&#8217;s sister, Zarah Castro, stated that non-uniformed men alongside two police women barged into their home, destroying their door in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;From the very beginning po, hindi po kami nakatanggap ng due process. Sa pagpasok forcibly sa aming bahay, sa hindi pagbigay ng warrant, sa hindi pagbigay ng opportunity na makausap ang abogado niya, natakot po talaga kami,&#8221; she stated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zarah Castro underscored the insufficiency of health workers amid the prevailing health crisis, and slammed the unjust acts against Dr. Castro despite service to far-flung communities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PNP chief Brigadier Roderick Augustus Alba said Dr. Castro\u2019s arrest is due to \u201cher alleged criminal actions that constitute participation in a case of kidnapping with serious illegal detention,\u201d not because of her alleged links to the Communist Party of the Philippines &#8211; New People\u2019s Army (CPP-NPA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, state forces had red-tagged Dr. Castro since 2020. They accused her as the head of the National Health Bureau of the CPP-NPA. Critics rebuked PNP\u2019s arrest and surmised that: since being a member of the CPP-NPA is not illegal, the authorities have found different ways to arrest its members and anyone linked to the rebel group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Union of Peoples\u2019 Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) lawyer Beverly Musni detailed that Dr. Castro\u2019s name was also among other human rights activists under charges of violation of the Philippine Act on Crime Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012. These charges are filed in the prosecutor\u2019s office in Butuan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UPLM pointed out the pattern of harassment and trumped-up charges against human rights workers and activists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On February 19, Dr. Castro\u2019s location was confirmed by her sisters. She was held incommunicado in Butuan before she was brought to a detention facility in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), which has already started its probation of the \u201cpossible violations\u201d of PNP\u2019s arrest, has also been informed about Dr. Castro\u2019s status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, as the records (warrant of arrest, reports, and documents) related to Dr. Castro\u2019s arrest are still not available because \u201cthe courts are closed until Monday,\u201d FLAG stated uncertainty of the \u201cexact circumstances of the case that has allegedly been filed against [Dr. Castro] and the reason for her arrest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Western Visayas Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF6-ELCAC) last Sunday, February 20, mindlessly told CHR to \u201crefrain\u201d from using the term \u201cLumad\u201d to refer to Mindanao indigenous people (IP), the tribe Dr. Castro served. Their reason being that <em>Lumad<\/em> is coined by the rebel group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Save Our Schools (SOS) Network clamored for the release of Dr. Castro, asserting that she had actively provided free healthcare to Lumad communities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The government has been continuously harassing the Lumad for decades, and this arrest has shown that it will continue to antagonize indigenous peoples and those who show their support,&#8221; called SOS Network.<br><br>RTF6-ELCAC also suggested the \u201cjudicial processes to proceed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In an interview with Rappler, Dr. Castro\u2019s sister guaranteed that the CPP-NPA\u2019s \u201cphilosophy is not congruent with what [Dr. Castro] believes in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>FLAG also affirmed that Dr. Castro is \u201cnot a communist nor is she a terrorist,\u201d contrary to what the police are presenting on their social media. \u201cShe is a health worker who has been helping those who need help the most.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UP-PGH Department of Family and Community Medicine pointed out that Dr. Castro&#8217;s arrest enforces a &#8220;chilling effect that will deter doctors from serving the communities.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It is the people who will ultimately suffer. We refuse to accept this kind of message.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UP PGH department, FLAG, and other human rights groups heighten their calls to immediately release Dr. Castro, and to hold the Duterte administration accountable for their unjust and unconstitutional actions towards Dr. Castro, health workers, and human rights defenders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>#FreeNatividadCastro<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Featured image courtesy of Menchi Castro<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/image-6.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/image-6.png?w=73\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3882\" width=\"67\" height=\"67\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FLAG asserted that the denial of Dr. Castro\u2019s access to her counsel and her family is a \u201cviolation of her rights under the Constitution and the law.\u201d She was also denied her medications for hypertension and diabetes as officers hindered her sister who brought medicines and test kits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[122],"class_list":["post-3877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-11-1.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1124,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/05\/12\/dr-tony-leachon-warns-of-wasting-astrazeneca-vaccines\/","url_meta":{"origin":3877,"position":0},"title":"Dr. Tony Leachon warns of wasting AstraZeneca vaccines","author":"emdeborja","date":"12 May 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Leachon also notes that Local Government Units (LGUs) are still loaded with a total of three million vaccines from Sinovac which are yet to be administered to citizens. Dr. Tony Leachon warns that the Philippines may end up wasting more than a million doses of AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccines if the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Quick Pops&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Quick Pops","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/quick-pops\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/dc-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/dc-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/dc-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/dc-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/dc-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5606,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/12\/08\/ineendorso-ng-sinag-si-dr-fidel-nemenzo-bilang-susunod-na-up-president\/","url_meta":{"origin":3877,"position":1},"title":"Ineendorso ng SINAG si Dr. Fidel Nemenzo bilang susunod na UP President","author":"Staff","date":"8 December 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Hindi biro ang kinabukasang haharapin ng UP sa susunod na anim na taon, sa ilalim ng administrasyong Marcos-Duterte. Kaya naman, buo ang aming kapasyahan na suportahan si Dr. Fidel Nemenzo bilang susunod na UP President alinsunod sa tatlong batayan. Hindi biro ang kinabukasang haharapin ng UP sa susunod na anim\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Others&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Others","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/others\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3085,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/11\/09\/gaano-kalayo-na-ang-narating-up-mhm-sheds-light-on-ph-mental-health-law-status\/","url_meta":{"origin":3877,"position":2},"title":"Gaano kalayo na ang narating?:\u00a0UP MHM sheds light on PH Mental Health Law status","author":"Staff","date":"9 November 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"UP Mental Health Month (MHM) and\u00a0Mondel\u0113z International held its penultimate event for this year\u2019s celebration of mental health month entitled \u201cGaano Kalayo na ang Narating?: Talakayan sa PH Mental Health Law,\u201d\u00a0a roundtable discussion on the current progress of R.A. 11036, or otherwise known as the Mental Health Act of 2018,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Features&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Features","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/news-features\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sinag-web-banner-3-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sinag-web-banner-3-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sinag-web-banner-3-2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sinag-web-banner-3-2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sinag-web-banner-3-2.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sinag-web-banner-3-2.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2342,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/09\/17\/cruel-work-conditions-force-healthcare-workers-to-seek-other-options-amid-raging-pandemic\/","url_meta":{"origin":3877,"position":3},"title":"Cruel work conditions force healthcare workers to seek other options amid raging pandemic","author":"Staff","date":"17 September 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Nurses in Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Memorial Hospital (DJPRMH) in General Santos are made to wear diapers due to an imposition of a no bathroom break policy to cut costs in personal protective equipment (PPE). Nurses and healthcare workers\u2019 (HCW) working conditions continue to worsen as COVID-19 cases skyrocket due\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4651,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/06\/07\/cssp-online-grad-not-final-sensing-dialogue-eyed\/","url_meta":{"origin":3877,"position":4},"title":"CSSP online grad, not final; 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