SWAT TEAM, RIOT SHIELDS

Lawyers tell court of police, jail guards' 'cruelty' at Baby River's funeral

Lawyers for detained activist Reina Mae Nasino have told the Manila Regional Trial Court of the "cruelty" and "barbarity" of police officers and jail guards at the funeral of Nasino's three-month-old child.

In a manifestation filed Monday, the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) claimed that over 40 jail and police officers "hijacked and commandeered" what should have been the solemn interment of Baby River.

The NUPL said members of the Manila Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), a SWAT truck with a machine gun atop, and a fire truck were deployed at the funeral home prior to the burial.

Armed police officers barred supporters of Nasino from entering the funeral home and threatened to confiscate the placards of members of progressive organizations, the lawyers said.

They said Nasino's mother, Marites Asis, had to kneel before officers to beg that they start the funeral procession on time, and though police "grudgingly" relented, the hearse carrying Baby River "suddenly sped off," leaving the family behind.

The mourners had to catch up and were met with riot shield-bearing police officers at the Manila North Cemetery, the lawyers said.

Police then took Baby River's casket from the hearse to the front of her tomb without waiting for her mother and her family to arrive. "They handled the casket brusquely and without care as if it was mere chattel," the NUPL said.

When Nasino arrived at the cemetery from the Manila City Jail, she was surrounded by jail guards and police. She remained handcuffed even despite pleas by her lawyer, her relatives, and a priest.

"As the accused would remain totally handcuffed during the entire burial, she was not able to wipe away her own tears with dignity, take sips of water on her own, and embrace her child's remains for the last time. She was also covered up in full PPE under the sweltering heat of the sun," the NUPL said.

The lawyers said Friday's incident showed that jail authorities' claim of lack of personnel to escort Nasino and that she is a high-risk inmate "are nothing but barefaced lies."

They said jail and police officers showed "total disregard to human feelings" and disrespected culture in times of mourning.

"The BJMP and the PNP may deny or try to excuse their cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of [Nasino] during her furlough, but in due time, she will see to it that such injustices will not be forgotten and go unpunished," the NUPL said.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has ordered an investigation to see whether jail personnel erred in their treatment of Nasino during the funeral.

Another official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government said last Friday that the security arrangement at the burial was "not overkill" and was only in anticipation of the crowd that may form at the event.

The Manila RTC gave Nasino three hours last Wednesday to visit the wake of her daughter and another three hours to attend the burial Friday.

The court initially allowed the detainee three days out of jail but shortened the furlough after jail authorities said they did not have enough personnel to escort her.

Nasino, a 23-year-old urban poor organizer, is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. She claims the allegations are fabricated.

She carried River in her womb in jail and gave birth at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital on July 1. Mother and daughter were ordered separated weeks later.

The child was hospitalized late September and died on October 9 of pneumonia.—AOL, GMA News