Death of River Nasino
DateOctober 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)
CauseAcute respiratory distress syndrome
BurialOctober 16, 2020 (2020-10-16)
Manila North Cemetery

River Nasino (July 1, 2020 – October 9, 2020) was a Filipino infant who died in a Manila hospital after suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome while her mother Reina Mae Nasino was detained for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.[1] The baby's death sparked condemnation from progressive groups due to the police handling involved during the baby's funeral and burial.[2]

Background

The 23-year-old pregnant human rights worker Reina Mae Nasino and two other activists were arrested at Tondo, Manila on November 5, 2019, and detained at the Manila City Jail for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, a non-bailable offense.[3][4][5] However, the detainees' lawyers asserted that the firearms and other weapons were planted.[5] During the custody, River Nasino was born prematurely on July 1, 2020, at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital and was later diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.[6][3] Reina pleaded that the baby should be allowed stay by her side until at least six months old.[4] Despite this, the baby was forcibly separated on August 13, 2020, despite the pleas that the baby is not healthy to separate a breastfeeding infant from her mother.[7] A month later, River was brought to the hospital after she had shown signs of COVID-19; she tested negative for the virus.[7] She died on October 9, 2020.[5] At the day of the baby's death, her mother asked to the court to let her see her daughter.[5]

Funeral

The Manila Regional Trial Court only gave Nasino a six-hour furlough (three hours for the wake and another three hours for the burial), which was reduced from three days, to allow her to visit her daughter's funeral.[5][8] The funeral of River was held on October 14, 2020, at the La Funeraria Rey in Pandacan,[8] where police had deployed 20 personnel, as well as SWAT members.[7] Reina Nasino visited the wake of her daughter, wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) while handcuffed. Only the family members were allowed inside the wake.[7] Nasino was also caught in the video begging on her knees before the police to allow the procession to start at 11:30 am, an hour before Nasino's three-hour furlough would start.[1] In addition, the police barred progressive groups from holding protest placards outside the funeral home. However, tension arose when the police escorts prevented the media from interviewing her.[5] A video from CNN Philippines showing the Chevrolet Suburban hearse carrying River's remains sped up during the procession, leaving the relatives behind.[9][6] The police denied the allegations of maltreatment, saying that the deployment of personnel was to ensure the safety of the detainee.[10]

It was reported that 43 police personnel were deployed for the burial of the baby.[8] During the burial of the baby at the Manila North Cemetery,[11] Nasino's parents and lawyers pleaded with the police to remove her handcuffs so she can hug the coffin for the last time but the police refused.[12][7] The mother of the detainee, Marites Asis, expressed her displeasure over what happened at the burial as they were forced to run after the hearse after it had sped up.[13]

In the aftermath, the Nasino family planned to file a case against the personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the "grotesque and barbaric" act against the detainee.[14]

Later events

The Court of Appeals, in a decision promulgated on August 31, 2022, granted the petition filed by Reina Mae Nasino and two fellow activists, nullifying the search warrants issued by the Manila and Quezon City Regional Trial Courts that led to their arrest,[15][16] citing the failure to meet the standards.[17]

After three years of detention, the three were ordered released on bail in December.[18]

They had filed for dismissal of charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, arguing that they can no longer be prosecuted.[19]

Acquittal of Reina Mae Nasino

They were acquitted by the Manila RTC Branch 47 through a decision dated July 17, 2023, but made public only ten days later, which also granted their joint motion for reconsideration against a court order in June that denied their demurrer to evidence.[20][21]

Reactions

On October 15, 2020, The College Editors Guild of the Philippines denounced the treatment of Reina Nasino and held the Duterte government liable for depriving her of her "right to free expression".[22]

Hashtags #JusticeForBabyRiver and #FreeReinaMaeNasino, as well as #OustDuterteNOW trended on Twitter on October 16, 2020, in response to the police handling of the burial.[2] Militant mass organizations Anakbayan and Gabriela strongly condemned the police handling of River's funeral, the latter calling it a "brutal takeover",[2] while activist group Karapatan blamed the Duterte administration for the baby's death[23] and slammed the reduction of her furlough, calling it "gross injustice and heartless".[24] Carlos Conde of the Human Rights Watch also condemned the baby's death, denouncing it as a "new, unconscionable low" for the Philippine government.[10]

Vice President Leni Robredo also expressed sympathy over the death of the baby, noting that the police presence at the funeral was "overkill".[25] Local celebrities Anne Curtis, her sister Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Bianca Gonzalez, and director Antoinette Jadaone also condemned the police handling at the burial.[26] Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that the case against the detained activist will proceed, adding that the department "sympathize with the accused for her personal loss".[27] Migrante International called for the justice of the baby and the release of the detainee.[28] Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno on his Twitter account also denounced the actions of the police, noting that despite the law, what had transpired to both Reina and River was "cruel".[29] Renato Reyes Jr. of Bayan reacted on the burial, stating that "we will never forget this."[30]

In October 18, 2020, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Celine Pialago, through her Facebook account, said that Nasino's supporters "should scrutinize who the detained activist is" and added that the public support for the grieving activist was a "drama serye" (transl. "drama series").[31] However, Pialago's statement sparked outrage from social media for "disrespect" and "zero empathy" towards the grieving mother and her baby.[31]

References

  1. 1 2 "CHR looking into Nasino case, 'deeply concerned' on how gov't is handling it". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Calls to free Reina Mae Nasino, justice for Baby River dominate Twitter trends after funeral tension". News5. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "As SC justices debated prisoner release, a baby was born, then died". Rappler. Retrieved October 17, 2020. River Nasino, 3 months old, died on October 9 because of pneumonia. River was born underweight at the Dr Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital on July 1. Her mother, 23-year-old activist Reina Mae Nasino, carried the baby in her womb while detained at the Manila City Jail.
  4. 1 2 "Arrested in 2019 crackdown, jailed activist gives birth in a pandemic". Rappler. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "CHR looking into Nasino case, 'deeply concerned' on how gov't is handling it". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Final Goodbye: Reina Mae Nasino attends Baby River's funeral amid tight security". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 18, 2020. Born pre-mature in July, River was separated from her mother mid-August as Nasino stayed in City Jail while awaiting trial for illegal possession of firearms and explosives. She and two others were arrested in November 2019. They said the charges were trumped up, alleging police planted evidence.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "At baby River's burial, Nasino stiffens her resolve: 'Once I'm free… we'll all be much stronger'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 "Baby River, who died in 'cracks' of justice system, laid to rest under tight police watch". Rappler. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  9. ↑ @cnnphilippines (October 16, 2020). "Supporters had to ask the driver to slow down because detained activist Reina Mae Nasino's family was behind the vehicle carrying Baby River's remains" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2020 – via Twitter.
  10. 1 2 "Dead baby caught in tug of war between Duterte's police, activist". Al Jazeera. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Activist Reina Mae Nasino attends child's burial at Manila cemetery". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Libing ni Baby River pinalibutan ng jail guards; aktibistang ina nakaposas". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  13. ↑ @News5PH (October 16, 2020). "Naglabas ng sama ng loob ang ina ng political detainee na si Reina Mae Nasino dahil sa nangyari sa libing ni Baby River. Napatakbo ang mga sasama sana sa funeral procession dahil sa bilis ng takbo ng karo" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2020 – via Twitter. Full interview at: bit.ly/3560lJ0
  14. ↑ "Tauhan ng BJMP sa libing, lamay ni Baby River, planong kasuhan". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  15. ↑ Macairan, Evelyn; Servallos, Neil Jayson (September 6, 2022). "CA voids warrants vs Nasino, 2 others". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  16. ↑ Casilao, Joahna Lei (September 5, 2022). "CA voids arrest warrants vs. Reina Mae Nasino, others". GMA News Online. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  17. ↑ Bolledo, Jairo (July 28, 2023). "After Nasino's acquittal, group urges SC anew to review 'warrant factory'". Rappler. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Reina Mae Nasino, 2 other activists freed after three years in detention". Philstar.com. December 22, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  19. ↑ "With faulty warrants voided, Nasino, 2 activists seek case dismissal". Philstar.com. September 9, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  20. ↑ Casilao, Joahna Lei (July 27, 2023). "Manila court acquits Reina Mae Nasino, two others". GMA News Online. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  21. ↑ Bolledo, Jairo (July 27, 2023). "Manila court acquits Reina Mae Nasino, others of criminal charges". Rappler. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  22. ↑ @News5PH (October 15, 2020). "Tinuligsa ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines ang pagtrato ng mga otoridad sa political detainee na si Reina Mae Nasino nang bisitahin nito ang libing ng kanyang anak kahapon" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2020 – via Twitter.
  23. ↑ "'Eksakto lang': DILG denies armed guards at River Nasino wake was overkill". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Kapatid slams reduction of Reina Mae Nasino's furlough as 'heartless'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  25. ↑ @News5PH (October 18, 2020). "Tinawag na "overkill" ni Vice President Leni Robredo ang ginawang pagbabantay ng Philippine National Police sa burol ni Baby River, anak ng detained activist na si Reina Mae Nasino" (Tweet). Retrieved October 18, 2020 – via Twitter.
  26. ↑ "Anne Curtis, fellow celebs condemn heavily guarded burial of baby River". Rappler. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Case vs. detained activist Nasino to proceed: DOJ". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  28. ↑ @News5PH (October 16, 2020). "Nanawagan ang grupong Migrante International para sa pagpapalaya kay Reina Mae Nasino at hustisya kay Baby River" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2020 – via Twitter.
  29. ↑ @News5PH (October 16, 2020). "Pinuna ng human rights lawyer na si Chel Diokno ang naging pagtrato ng otoridad kay activist detainee Reina Mae Nasino at sa kanyang yumaong anak na si Baby River" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2020 – via Twitter.
  30. ↑ @News5PH (October 16, 2020). ""We will never forget this." Ito ang reaksyon ni Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. matapos ilibing ang anak ng political prisoner na si Reina Mae Nasino sa Manila North Cemetery" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2020 – via Twitter.
  31. 1 2 "MMDA's Pialago under fire for 'zero empathy' toward activist Nasino, baby River". Rappler. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
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