DIFFERENT groups expressed concerns about the whereabouts of a doctor; accused of being a member of a Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), after went missing after her arrest.
The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) on Saturday said Dr. Maria Natividad Castro was arrested by the police on Friday through a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court of Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur on January 30, 2020 for alleged kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
However, rights group Karapatan said Castro is a health worker who helped in setting up community centers and programs in Mindanao and trained many human rights workers for several years.
FLAG, who was retained as counsel by Castro’s relatives, said they sought access to the doctor at the Intelligence Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame where she was reportedly brought and detained.According to FLAG National Chairperson Chel Diokno, Castro’s sister and another lawyer were not allowed access to the doctor.“Upon inquiry, police officers from the Intelligence Group informed FLAG that Dr. Castro was no longer at Camp Crame as she was supposedly ‘brought to the airport’ to be ‘delivered to the court’ in Butuan City,” Diokno said in a statement.He said family members then proceeded to the airport but did not see her there, and that the scheduled flight to Butuan took off without any confirmation of Castro being on board.
Diokno said requests for copies of the warrant of arrest, reports and documents related to Castro’s arrests and transportation “went unheeded.”
The doctor was last seen by relatives at the PNP Intelligence Group Office at Camp Crame.
Pangilinan: Pakawalan si Dr. Naty
“Kinukundena natin ang pag-aresto kay Dr. Naty Castro, isang premyadong manggagamot ng mga walang-wala nating katutubo.
Nakakagimbal ang mala-martial law na mga taktiktang ginagamit ng mga awtoridad pagdakip sa kanya.
Ang balita natin, walang pangalan niya ang warrant of arrest, walang name-plate at hindi naka-uniporme ang mga umaresto sa kanya. Dinala sa kung saan-saan si Dr. Naty bago kasuhan. At hindi siya pinayagang makausap ang kanyang abogado.
Gawain yan ng mga kriminal at walang pagkilala sa batas, hindi ng mga alagad ng batas.
Matapos ang pambabaklas ng mga tarpaulin sa loob mismo ng ari-arian ng mga pribadong mga mamamayang Pilipino, tila dinadala tayo ng mga galamay ng martial law patungo lalo sa dilim.
Bibigyan natin ng anumang tulong na kailangan ni Dr. Naty — ligal, medikal, at moral support.
Tulad ng mga kabataang Isabelino na nagsisindi ng kandila, kasama natin sila at ni Dr. Naty na patuloy na magiging liwanag sa dilim.”
