Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (File photo)
MANILA – Malacañang is saddened by the death of three-month-old baby River, daughter of jailed activist Reina Mae Nasino, due to acute respiratory distress syndrome last Friday.
Baby River was born on the first week of July and was separated from her mother on Aug. 13, upon orders of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20. A motion for reconsideration was denied.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the motion to allow Nasino to stay with her child is within the jurisdiction of the court.
“Talagang nakakalungkot po yung insidenteng ‘yan. Pero wala pong magagawa ang Presidente, ‘yan po ay nasa hurisdiksyon ng ating hukuman (That incident is really sad. But the President cannot do anything, that is within the jurisdiction of our court),” he said in a virtual presser on Monday.
He pointed out that the Palace had no choice but to respect the court decision.
“The decision lies wholly with the regional trial court and the regional trial court has ruled. We respect that decision and the Executive will implement that decision,” he added.
The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL), counsels for Nasino, confirmed that River died before 9 p.m. Friday before her mother's court request for a furlough could even go through the motions.
Before the child’s death on Friday, the NUPL filed a motion for furlough before a Manila court to allow Nasino to be with her baby after her doctor said the child “may expire any moment now.”
Nasino was separated from Baby River on Aug. 13 after Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 20 Presiding Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali denied her motion to be with her child at the hospital or a prison nursery for at least a year for breastfeeding purposes.
Nasino, who was one month pregnant at that time, was arrested after police reportedly found her and two other activists with firearms and explosives at the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Manila Office in Tondo, Manila in November 2019.
The raid was part of coordinated operations by the Philippine National Police in several offices and homes of members of non-governmental organizations in Manila and Negros Occidental.
While waiting for a ruling on her very urgent motion for furlough, Nasino viewed her child's funeral in Pandacan, Manila through a video call on Saturday. (PNA)
