Human Dignity and Human Rights

What were you doing last October 9, 2020 at around 8:50 PM? Some are probably having
dinner with their family, workers are just getting home from work, students cramming their
deadlines, others are soundly sleeping under the comfort of their homes. But a 3-month old baby
was taking her last breath at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Philippine General Hospital
without the presence, care and embrace of her mother. All because the said mother has opposing
beliefs against the government.
The mother, Reina Nacino, is a political prisoner. A political prisoner is defined as someone
imprisoned because they have opposed or criticized the government responsible for their
imprisonment. In a news report by Manila Today, she has spent her entire pregnancy in jail, since
she was arrested in a police raid of progressive group BAYAN Manila’s office in Tondo on November
5 last year. She was separated from her baby, River, after she gave birth. In a news report by
Rappler, the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) pleaded the court to either let Reina and
her baby stay longer at the Fabella Memorial Hospital, or at least let Reina keep her baby inside the
jail but be provided with natal care facilities. They were denied. Likewise, they plead that she be
allowed to express breastmilk and be given access to clean lactation facilities inside the Manila City
Jail Female Dormitory which was once again denied.
River was brought last September 24 due to diarrhea. The infant was later diagnosed with
acute respiratory distress syndrome. Reina was kept separated from her baby, not even allowing
her to visit. Few months later, the doctor announced that, River is “no longer responding to
medications and may expire any moment now.” Reina beats the court doors once again and
requested to allow her to see her daughter, once again met with denial. Last October 9, the doctor
announced the passing of baby River. This case took away not only Reina’s rights when she was
taken in prison as a political prisoner but also baby River’s right to live.
Why do we even have political prisoners? Political prisoners are detained for criticizing the
shortcomings of the government, asking for reform, and demanding individual freedoms - in other
words, they are simply exercising their fundamental human rights such as freedom of opinion,
freedom of assembly and freedom of religion. Most of them do not even have sufficient legal basis.
Due to this concept, a baby was deprived of her right to live. Philippines is a predominantly Catholic
country who believes in the sanctity of life, which even opposes legalizing abortion because of the
belief that it is killing, even if those are just clump of cells. Meanwhile, an already breathing baby
was left to fend off for herself and take her final breath without a mother just because the said
mother exercised her right to freedom of opinion.
Political prisoners should not even exist, specially, in a proclaimed democratic country. In
that sense, having political prisoners should only be allowed under extreme conditions.
Additionally, prisoners in general should be given the same compassion given to foreign prisoners.
Provide the prisoners their rights, give them the resources they need to survive and live, health
care, sanitary necessities, nutritious food. Human rights and human dignity are not, never will be,
only applicable to those who are in power. The people in prison are not just numbers, they are real
people. Release political prisoners, give alternative corrective measures, if necessary. Conduct a
thorough investigation before imprisonment, give them their right to due process. One life lost is
one too many.
WORKS CITED
Buan, L. (2020, October 09). 3-month-old baby, separated from jailed activist mother at birth, dies.
Retrieved October 10, 2020, from https://www.rappler.com/nation/baby-separated-from-
jailed-activist-mother-reina-mae-nasino-dies

Lalu, G. (2020, October 10). Groups reiterate call to free political prisoner after her sick baby dies.
Retrieved October 10, 2020, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1345922/groups-reiterate-
call-to-free-political-prisoner-after-her-sick-baby-dies

Salem, L., & -, S. (2020, March 31). Groups call for release of 5 months pregnant political
prisoner
Reina 'Ina' Nacino. Retrieved October 10, 2020, from https://manilatoday.net/groups-call-
for-release-of-5-months-pregnant-political-prisoner-reina-ina-nacino/