Sen. Nancy Binay appealed to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the courts Sunday to allow detained activist Reina Nacino a chance to visit the wake of her three-month old baby by granting her temporary release from detention.
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Muli, nananawagan po tayo na sana ay pansamantalang palayain si Reina para makasama niya ang kanyang anak sa huling pagkakataon (Again, we are calling on our authorities to temporarily free Reina so she can be with her child for the last time),” Binay said in a statement.
Binay had earlier asked jail authorities to temporarily release Nacino to enable her to properly nurse her baby.
Last Sept. 24, Nasino's baby River was brought to the Manila Medical Center (MMC) in Manila due to diarrhea and fever and was later confirmed to have pneumonia. She died on Oct. 9 after succumbing to bacterial infection at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Taft Ave., Manila.
Binay has long been pushing to have a legal basis under existing laws for courts to provide alternative modes of confinement for women detainees for humanitarian and compassionate reasons, especially for pregnant women and parents who are in jail.
She said there is a necessity for the Senate to review if the existing policies and protocols of the BJMP regarding women detainees are still relevant under a COVID-19 era.
“We must review whether the existing policies and protocols of the BJMP regarding women detainees, especially their access to medical care and facilities, are still relevant with the new normal,” Binay said.