MEMBERS of Kapatid, a support and advocacy group of political detainees, yesterday trooped to the Supreme Court to press their appeal for the resolution of their petition calling for the release of sick and elderly detainees who are vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.
This took place hours before the justices gathered for their regular en banc session. The petition, which was filed in April, was among issues expected to be discussed during the session.
Kapatid spokesman Fidel Lim said each day the vulnerable detainees spend in detention means nothing but peril for them, especially those most at risk from the novel coronavirus disease.
“Three months of waiting is beyond enough. Based on investigative reports, an alarming level of prisoners are dying at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa. At least 80 prisoners died from May 1 to May 19,” Lim said.
The Bureau of Corrections could not be reached for comment about the death toll given by Lim number but the Department of Justice last month said 16 inmates in BuCor-operated facilities have died from COVID-19 out of the 300 who were infected.
Lim said it is high time for the court to decide on the plea, adding one of the petitioners, Raina Mae Nasino, gave birth on July 1.
“One of the petitioners has already given birth and like what we’ve feared, the day after giving birth, she was brought back to prison with her baby,” Lim added.
Nasino’s mother, Marites Asis, was one of those who trooped to the SC.
“Ako po ay nagmamakaawa sa inyong tanggapan na ibaba na ninyo ang desisyon sa kanyang paglaya. Nakakaawa po ang kanilang kalagayan sa loob ng city jail at hindi lingid sa inyong kaalaman na maaari silang mahawa na mag-ina sa COVID-19 at ako po ay natatatakot sa kanilang mag-ina. Ang aking anak ay nagpapasuso sa kanyang anak bilang proteksyon (I am pleading for you to decide on her release. The condition inside the city jail is pitiful and there is a chance that my daughter and her daughter will get infected with COVID-19. She is breastfeeding her daughter for protection),” Nasino’s mother said.
Kapatid said Nasino is back at the female dorm of the Manila City Jail where she was detained after being arrested on charges of possession of firearms and explosives. She was arrested with two other activists following a crackdown on people’s organizations in Manila and Bacolod city in November last year.
There are about 80 inmates at the female dorm of the Manila City Jail although it can only hold a maximum of 40 persons.
At the SC, the group tied blue ribbons at the fence of the SC building and handed a letter of appeal which was accepted by Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez.
