The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday, March 31, that the dismissal of the cases it filed against community doctor Natividad Castro is not a setback in its campaign against communist insurgency but more of a learning experience to strengthen police procedures.
The PNP was reacting to the March 25 ruling of a Bayugan City Regional Trial Court which junked the case of kidnapping and illegal detention against the 53-year old community doctor whom it accused to be a ranking official of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA).
Castro was accused as one of those who kidnapped a government militiaman in 2018. She was arrested in San Juan City in February this year based on the arrest warrant issued by a court in CARAGA region.
"The Philippine National Police remains faithfully respectful to the decision of the Court in dismissing the case of Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention filed against Dr. Natividad Castro," the PNP said in a statement.
"Our highest respect for judicial authorities is dutifully expressed in our prompt and responsive compliance to every mandate of the Court to implement its orders to make arrests, search and seizures; and to serve other court processes that require police intervention," it added.
The arrest of Castro was widely criticized especially those in the medical community. The PNP was also accused of disregarding due process and police procedures in the conduct of the arrest.
In the same statement, the PNP insisted that Castro is a ranking member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
"We do not see this particular case involving a ranking member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines, as a setback in the continuing campaign to account for persons wanted by the law, especially those identified with domestic terrorist groups and its affiliate organizations," it stated.
"Rather we find this learning experience as another opportunity to further strengthen police systems and procedures to address organizational weaknesses and institutional dysfunctions as an integral component of the criminal justice system," the statement added.
The PNP said it reserves the right to seek further legal remedies that may convince the Court to reconsider.