The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is set to investigate the death last February 14 of Carlen, a newborn baby of detained activist Nona Espinosa of Negros Oriental.
CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia on Monday night, February 22, said:
“We are concerned with this another death of an infant as this raises questions about the government’s fulfilment of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders or the ‘Bangkok Rules.’”
Last year, various groups criticized the government on the treatment of detained activist Reina Mae Nasino whose newborn baby daughter River died after being separated from her.
“Ultimately, decisions pertaining to the lives of our vulnerable children should keep their best interests in mind,” De Guia, a lawyer, said.
“We remind the government that human rights should be respected at all times, that even persons deprived of liberty ought to have their basic rights upheld,” she stressed.
Nona and her husband Adidas Acero, both accused of being members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), were arrested on Sept. 20, 2020 by the police and the military based on warrants issued against them.
They were arrested along with seven other peasant activists by law enforcement agents who reportedly seized from them firearms and explosives.
Nona was taken on the first week of January to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital where she gave birth to her daughter.
Three days after Carlen’s birth, the infant was separated from Nona who was brought back to the Guihulngan City Police Station Jail.
The baby died last February 14 after her turnover to Nona’s family.