"Is the Authorities really value 'Human Lives'?"
(A note after the reports on River Nacino's death)
At first, this note extend its deepest sympathies to political detainee Raena Mae Nasino and her family for the untimely death of her 3 month old daughter River last Friday after suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome.
According to reports, Baby River’s health deteriorated after authorities separated her from her mother and deprived of breastmilk, barely 2 months after she was born. As Nasino, a member of Urban Poor group KADAMAY, was found out she was pregnant after her arrest along with other activists on November 5, 2019 in Manila for alleged illegal possession of weapons. On April 8, Nasino, together with other political prisoners, filed a petition before the Supreme Court to allow their temporary release on humanitarian grounds. The Supreme Court decided instead to pass the responsibility to the lower courts. On August 13, River was separated from her mother by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20. A motion for reconsideration was also denied, and Reina’s case in the Court of Appeals remains pending. Nasino’s lawyers even filed a petition for her temporary release after discovering that River was no longer responding to medication and might die soon but to no avail. The baby died without reuniting with her mother.
Coincidentally, Nasino's arrest last 2019 was also another attack on the people's resistance after multiple raids took place in Negros and in Paco, Manila. And contrary to the allegations brought by the authorities, she and others arrested have consistently opposed anti-people programs of the Duterte regime such as Operations Tokhang, Galugad, the TRAIN law, and demolition sprees brought about by the Build Build Build program.
It is unsurprising for with this kind of action brought by the authorities shows failure to show compassion and a blatant disregard for basic human rights such as that "right to life", contrary to what Duterte himself telling about "Human Lives over Human Rights"; that be it arrested, killed, or involuntarily disappeared shows how this administration doesn't matter about their lives nor innocence, but instead justifying their demises all due to their beliefs; and to think that the administration's supporters either justify that action as part of war on terror/or insurgency, it clearly shows that those who oppose Duterte's bloodied policies, what more of promoting "pro-people" alternatives are synonymous with terrorism- and not even surprising about trumped-up charges to justify further their arrests if not their demises. Thus, is the authorities really value "human lives" as what they did to Ina and her child?
Expect more protests all because of this kind of inaction (or rather say intention) that's brought by the order. Saddening yes, but with the action brought by the order really intensify people's anger no matter they're trying to lessen it.
And to cut this note short, this would say each and every concerned should realise how these bandits in uniform has done to Ina and her infant child, and that to call for the release of Political Prisoners, to pursue pro-people reforms, is just along with the fight for lasting peace based on justice- and from this would really meant valuing human lives that's contrary to what the present order has shown over.