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'Like martial law': Pangilinan condemns arrest of alleged CPP member Dr. Castro

Philippines | National

'Like martial law': Pangilinan condemns arrest of alleged CPP member Dr. Castro

By Joseph Pedrajas

Senator Kiko Pangilinan on Saturday, Feb. 19 condemned the arrest of a 53-year-old physician working as a health worker in Mindanao after she was accused of being a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Dr. Maria Natividad Castro (Photo courtesy of PNP-PIO)

In a statement, Pangilinan said what happened to Dr. Naty Castro was “terrifying” because her arrest was similar to what was done under the Ferdinand Marcos era martial law.

“What we learned of the warrant of arrest didn’t have her name and those who arrested him were riding on a unmarked vehicle and were not wearing a uniform,” the lawmaker-turned-vice presidential aspirant said in Filipino.

“She was brought somewhere else before she was charged. She wasn’t even allowed to contact her lawyer,” Pangilinan added.

Castro was arrested by members of the police and the military in her house in San Juan City on Friday based on an arrest warrant dated Jan. 30.

She was accused of kidnapping and serious illegal detention as well as being the leader of the Health Bureau of the CPP-NPA in Butuan City, which her family denied.

Pangilinan said what the police did was “an act of criminals who do not honor the law".

After the removal of campaign tarpaulin inside private properties, Pangilinan said it seems that “We’re being brought by officers implementing ‘martial law’ into the darkness.”

Pangilinan said he will provide legal and medical assistance to Castro, as well as moral support.

Related Tags

CPP-NPA Kiko Pangilinan arrest condemn naty castro 21922

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