(For a photo essay: https://reut.rs/3kbIirq)
By Adrian Portugal and Eloisa Lopez
MANILA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Jailed Philippine activist Reina
Mae Nasino wanted to hold her three-month-old daughter for the
last time before she was laid to rest on Friday but she could
not.
Heavily armed prison officials guarding her refused to
uncuff her despite pleas from her family and human rights
supporters, who have decried what they described as inhumane
treatment of Nasino and other mothers in Philippine jails.
"We were denied the chance to be together. I did not even
see your laughter," said the 23-year-old Nasino, who was seen
crying in front of her daughter River's tiny white coffin.
A local court granted Nasino a three-day furlough to attend
the wake and funeral of her daughter.
Nasino, a member of the urban poverty group Kadamay, was
arrested in November 2019 with two others for unlawful
possession of firearms - charges she said were trumped up and
part of a crackdown against left-leaning activists.
In April, she petitioned the Supreme Court to release her
from jail on humanitarian grounds amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Nasino gave birth while in jail in July, but her baby was
removed from her care and brought to her mother in August. The
following month, her baby became sick and was hospitalised,
prompting calls for mother and child to be reunited.
Wearing a full-body personal protective equipment suit while
standing in the heat of the sun, Nasino told her baby: "I hope
we will be the last to experience this."
The solemn occasion turned chaotic as police officers in
camouflage uniforms dispersed the funeral procession and told
the hearse carrying the coffin to speed up, forcing mourners to
run after the vehicle.
"I thought we would have a proper burial with family and
friends, but I was traumatised. My other daughter nearly fainted
while chasing the car," said Nasino's mother, Marites.
"I am so angry that we could not even give my grandchild a
proper procession and we could not even play the music she
liked."
For a photo essay: https://reut.rs/3kbIirq