Family seeks hospital detention for Dr. Naty Castro

The family of arrested doctor and Lumad advocate, Naty Castro, appealed to allow her to be detained in a hospital due to her health condition, according to GMA’s “24 Oras” report on Thursday.

Menchi Castro said her sister is currently in an isolation cell at the Agusan del Sur Provincial Jail.

She said they were able to talk to Castro over the phone and were allowed to hand the doctor her maintenance medicines for her diabetes and hypertension.

But Menchi issued a plea for the jail personnel to allow Castro to be examined by a doctor due to her illnesses.

The local court has set a hearing on March 4 to discuss Castro's motion to dismiss her case.  The doctor's camp said proper preliminary investigation on the charges against her was not followed.

The 53-year-old health worker was taken into custody by the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces intelligence operatives in Barangay San Perfecto on the basis of a warrant of  arrest issued on January 30, 2020 by acting presiding judge Fernando Fudalan of the Regional Trial Court Branch 7 of Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.

Police claimed Castro is a ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines.  She is facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges.

Health and human rights organizations have launched a campaign to free Castro, saying the charges against her were trumped up and false accusations. —Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News