Political prisoner Andrea Rosal. Photo from Karapatan.org
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/05/20/1325275/questions-raised-death-political-detainees-newborn-child
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Pia Cayetano on Tuesday raised questions on the circumstances that led to the death of political prisoner Andrea Rosal's newborn daughter.
Cayetano said the country's prison system must ensure that the reproductive health rights and needs of pregnant female inmates like Rosal are respected and addressed by jail authorities.
"The right of a mother to reproductive health is universal and must be observed at all times, regardless of the detainee's political belief," said Cayetano, author of the Reproductive Health Law.
The senator made these statements after Rosal's infant daughter died of hypoxemia (low level of oxygen in the blood) a day after she gave birth at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) last May 17.
Rosal, the daughter of the late New Peoples Army spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, had arrest warrants for murder, kidnapping and attempted homicide.
"Was Andrea given sufficient medical attention in prison? Why was there a delay in her transfer to PGH from her prison cell?" Cayetano asked.
The chairperson of the Senate Committee on women, family relations and gender equality, Cayetano said pregnant women in detention should be given decent living conditions and hospital care, if needed.
Human rights group Karapatan said authorities from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Armed Forces of the Philippines and other government agencies should be held responsible for the Rosal's condition and her daughter's death.
According to the group, Rosal was was seven months pregnant when she was arrested on March 27.
She was then detained in a 5 by 10-meter cell with 31 other inmates in Camp Bagong Diwa, where she did not receive any medical attention from jail authorities, Karapatan said.
The group further claimed that Rosal's transfer to PGH this week, in accordance to a court order issued for her immediate hospitalization, "was unreasonably delayed" by authorities from the BJMP.
"Andrea was experiencing uterine contractions since the evening of May 15, but she was brought back and forth from Camp Bagong Diwa and the PGH because BJMP authorities said there were no available room for her," the group said.
Karapatan said Rosal was admitted only in the evening of May 16 and before giving birth the next day.
"Their blatant disregard of the rights of Andrea, including her right to receive immediate medical care and be in an environment conducive for conceiving and delivering a healthy child, are apparent in this case," Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.
Cayetano also lamented Rosal's condition while in detention.
"If a woman seven months pregnant is locked up in a prison cell that is merely 5 x 10 meters small, cramped with 31 other inmates, and when she is denied access to the necessary pre-natal check-ups and tests, then we are endangering the health and life of both the mother and baby," Cayetano said.
While sympathizing with Rosal, Cayetano expressed hope that her request to attend her daughter's wake and burial would be granted by the court.
"As a mother who also lost a child, I can sympathize with Andrea and the anguish that she must be going through. She should be allowed to grieve for her baby and given enough time to fully recover physically and psychologically," Cayetano said.
The senator said a full investigation must be conducted to see whether the country's detention facilities for women are equipped to deal with a mother's maternal health.
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