DILG on BJMP escorting Nasino during Baby River’s wake: They acted with professionalism

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday defended the jail guards who had escorted detained activist Reina Mae Nasino during the wake of her child, saying the guards acted with "professionalism, restraint, and integrity."

In a statement, DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel acted with professionalism "despite the provocation, insults, and harassment they faced from the critical crowd during the wake."

"The BJMP jail officers assigned to escort Nasino were insulted, harassed and verbally abused by leftist groups aligned with Ms. Nasino," Malaya said.

"Truth be told, it was the leftist groups who caused the tension during the wake when they suddenly vented their ire on the BJMP officers who were just doing their jobs," he added.

Malaya claimed the intention of the leftist group in the wake was clearly "to provoke the jail officers in order to create a media spectacle, hog the headlines, and portray the BJMP and the government, by extension, as heartless and insensitive to the plight of Nasino."

"What was supposed to be a solemn occasion for a mother to peacefully grieve the death of her daughter was intentionally turned into a media spectacle at the clear instigation of these Leftist groups," Malaya said.

Malaya appealed to the leftist groups not to vent their anger and indignation on the "innocent" jail officers who were just following the orders of the courts.

"It was the courts that denied their pleadings, who decided on the conditions for her furlough, and yet it is the BJMP that they are crucifying. The BJMP is simply obeying the orders of the court otherwise we will be the one who will be cited for contempt," Malaya explained.

Personnel of the Manila City Jail Female Dormitory, backed up by police officers, escorted Nasino on what was supposed to be a three-hour visit to her child's wake in Pandacan, Manila.

Almost 50 BJMP personnel accompanied Nasino despite the claim of the jail warden that they did not have enough staff.

Nasino's camp claimed that the security officers prevented the detained activist from being interviewed by the media.

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers said it would study whether to take legal action against the jail personnel as well as the policemen.

Not a political prisoner

Malaya said the DILG condoles with Nasino, but the agency condemned the action of the leftists who attended the wake who supposedly placed Nasino and the jail guard's security at risk.

Meanwhile, the DILG also stressed that Nasino is not a political prisoner.

"She is not being detained for her political beliefs, opinions, or for opposing the government. We don’t have laws against that," Malaya said.

"She is detained upon orders of the regional trial court for criminal cases for illegal possession of firearms and explosives. That is a simple and undeniable fact,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News