Reina Nasino sues BJMP, Manila police for torture over 'cruelty' at baby's wake, funeral

Detained activist Reina Mae Nasino on Wednesday sued over 20 jail and police officials and officers for torture over their alleged "cruelty" towards her and her child who died at three months old.

Nasino filed criminal and administrative complaints against the chiefs of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Manila Police District (MPD), the Manila City Jail Female Dormitory (MCJFD), and several police and jail officers before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The detainee accused BJMP Director Allan Iral, then-MPD chief Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, MCJFD Officer-in-Charge Ignacia Monteron, and their officers of mental or psychological torture of a detainee, maltreatment of prisoners, and grave abuse of authority, among other charges.

In response, the BJMP said it has "acted within the bounds of the law and the rules and regulations of the agency."

Nasino, who is in jail for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives, gave birth to a girl named River in July. Despite her appeal to stay with the child for a year so she could breastfeed, a court ordered her separated from her daughter weeks after she gave birth.

River was hospitalized after the separation. She died of pneumonia in October.

Nasino was initially allowed a three-day furlough to attend the child's wake and burial but ended up with only six hours after Monteron, the warden, told the court the city jail does not have enough personnel to escort the detainee.

But Nasino would be closely guarded by dozens of jail and police officers, some with high-powered firearms, at the wake and the burial. She remained in handcuffs for most of the furlough.

Witnesses claimed that the officers "hijacked and commandeered" the events, destroying their solemnity.

"The burial, as well as the wake, of my deceased three-month old baby was transformed into a full police operation," Nasino said in the complaint.

She said on the day of the funeral, the hearse carrying her child sped up, leaving mourners behind, and that the police officers carried the casket "brusquely" to the burial lot even though they were unauthorized to even touch it.

"Despite the fact that my case is still being tried in court, I feel like I have already been adjudged guilty and punished accordingly," Nasino said.

"For the respondents, it was not enough for me to suffer the terrible loss of my child and for my family to be disrespected in their grief. They had to publicly oppress me during my child’s funeral and burial and violate, at the same time, the basic rights of our sympathizers," she added.

Nasino further claimed she was not allowed to express her breastmilk inside jail after she and River were separated. For this, she accused Iral and Monteron of violating the breastfeeding promotion law.

"All told, all the respondents, and possibly their respective superiors like Secretary Año, Generals Cascolan and General Sinas - should answer for their unimaginable behavior and unbelievable conduct, which is not only illegal but a disgrace to morals, norms, and humanity itself," Nasino said.

"This is not only justice for me and my child, but justice for every human being," she added.

Nasino's lawyers earlier asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the Manila judge who had ordered her separated from her child. —KBK/AOL, GMA News