Bayan Muna eyes House probe on PNP's 'highly condemnable' arrest of Castro

The Makabayan bloc, particularly Bayan Muna Party-list, wants to conduct a House probe on the “outrageous and highly condemnable” arrest of suspected Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NPA) member, Dr. Maria Natividad Castro.

“We are calling on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to immediately investigate this anomalous and Gestapo-like arrest of Doc Naty,” House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said in statement Saturday, Feb. 19.

“Bayan Muna will also file a resolution condemning her arrest and call for a probe in Congress,” Zarate said.

Castro was arrested by members of the police and the military in her house in San Juan City on Friday, Feb. 19 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.

“Up till now, her captors have yet to give an original copy of the supposed warrant of arrest and other documents justifying her arrest. Her sister claimed it is not even her name that appeared in a photocopy of a supposed warrant shown to them,” Zarate said.

“She was also refused access to her counsel as well as her family. Her medicines for diabetes and hypertension were also not allowed. She was also reportedly already brought to Butuan City yesterday without any regard for her Miranda rights,” added the leftist lawmaker.

He further asked: “Is this the new normal of the PNP (Philippine National Police) in affecting arrests under the new terror law? This is outrageous and highly condemnable.”