Karapatan called anew for the immediate release of political detainee Miradel Torres who gave birth to a baby boy on November 19 at the Philippine General Hospital.
Karapatan called anew for the immediate release of political detainee Miradel Torres who gave birth to a baby boy on November 19 at the Philippine General Hospital.
“The Court’s resolution granting Torres’ another two months to stay at the PGH is a welcome relief for the mother and son. Still, Torres’ continued detention will be detrimental to both, especially to the baby who should be nurtured outside the jail. We all know how our jails are. It’s unfit for humans, much more to a newborn,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general.
On November 7, the Infanta Regional Trial Court Branch 65 said Torres may have two more months, starting November 26, to fully recover from her illness and for her to be able to nurse her newborn child. Torres was diagnosed with upper respiratory tract infection, bacterial rule out and community-acquired pneumonia, while her baby has Sepsis.
In a statement, Torres said, “Nanawagan ako’ng sana’y palayain ako sa lalong madaling panahon laluna at isinilang ko na ang aking sanggol at nangangailangan ng aking pag-aalaga at pakalinga (I call for my immediate release especially now that may baby needs my care).”
“Wala akong kinalaman o alam sa ibinibintang na operasyon ng NPA laban sa militar at pulis … Ako po’y isang ordinaryong mamamayan at ina ng dalawang anak na nagnanais makapiling ang aking mga anak laluna sa panahon ng kapaskuhan(I know nothing of the NPA operation against the military or the police…I am an ordinary citizen and mother of two who wish to be with her children especially on Christmas,” Torres added.
Earlier, Karapatan cited international measures as bases for Torres’ immediate release on humanitarian grounds. Among them, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation thatbabies should be exclusively breastfed for six months up to more than two years.
The WHO recommendation specifically cited that breastfeeding should be done in “an environment where both baby and mother are properly fed and cared for, where the mother can also have the health and stamina to nurture her child, free from unnecessary stress and discomfort.”
Article 7 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child stipulates that the child has the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents. ###