A doctor identified by the Philippine National Police as an alleged “communist terrorist group leader” was arrested in San Juan City on Friday, Feb. 18, but the family of the suspect denied the police’s allegations and called them “untrue.”
Police identified the arrested suspect as Dr. Maria Natividad Castro, 53. She was nabbed by a composite team of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) around 9:30 a.m. in her house in Barangay San Perfecto, San Juan City by virtue of an arrest warrant dated Jan. 30, 2020.
According to police, Castro is accused of kidnapping and serious illegal detention under Criminal Case No. 6527. The arrest warrant was issued by Hon. Fernando Fudalan, acting presiding judge of the 10th Judicial Region, Regional Trial Court, Branch 7 of Bayugan, Agusan del Sur.
No bail is recommended for Castro’s case.
Police records accused Castro of being a CPP Central Committee member and alleged head of the CPP – New People’s Army (NPA) National Health Bureau based in Brgy. Libertad, Butuan City.
However, Castro’s family denied the police’s allegation that she is a communist rebel and a member of the CPP Central Committee.
A certain Jun Castro, who identified himself as an elder brother of the suspect, said the police’s claims were “all untrue.”
Jun said that her sister is a “health worker who has set up community health centers and programs in Mindanao.”
“Many years ago, Dr. Naty brought a Lumad (Philippine indigenous people) who were victims of militarization to UN Geneva. She spoke there, in Geneva, to help the Lumad people,” Jun said in a social media post shortly after her sister’s arrest.
“My sister is accused of multiple charges of kidnapping and illegal detention, all related to her human rights advocacy. All untrue,” he added.
According to Jun, Dr. Maria Natividad graduated valedictorian in elementary at the College of the Holy Spirit Manila in 1982; valedictorian in high school at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila in 1986; and cum laude at the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) in 1995.
She was also supposedly awarded as one of the 100 most outstanding graduates of St. Scholastica in 2006.
“As a health worker, she has served both rich and poor in various areas in Mindanao,” Jun said.
Meanwhile, Gen. Dionardo Carlos, PNP Chief, lauded the troops of the Caraga Police Regional Office (PRO-13) under the leadership of Police Brigadier General Romeo Carramat for arresting a “wanted communist terrorist group leader.”
"I congratulate our personnel who have been conducting surveillance and intelligence gathering, making it possible to bring the suspect before the court to stand in trial in accord with legal proceedings,” Carlos said.
The PNP Chief also assured Castro's family that she was duly informed of her constitutional rights as an accused individual.