House urged to condemn, probe arrest of community doctor Natividad Castro

In this undated photo shows Dr. Ma. Natividad Castro.

Facebook / Jun Castro

MANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna lawmakers are asking the House of Representatives to condemn and investigate the arrest of community doctor and human rights advocate Ma. Natividad Castro, a call that is likely to be ignored by a chamber dominated by allies of President Rodrigo Duterte and with members likely looking towards the May elections.

Malacañang denied Tuesday that Castro’s arrest was due to red-tagging, even if the Philippine National Police have accused the doctor of being a ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The red-tagging anti-communist task force as well as government media have highlighted the alleged communist links and have said that Castro was arrested according to procedure.

"Amid the poor government response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the severe shortage of health workers, the continuing harassment against our doctors is unacceptable and highly condemnable," Reps. Eufemia Cullamat, Carlos Zarate and Ferdinand Gaite said in House Resolution No. 2496.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/02/22/2162612/house-urged-condemn-probe-arrest-community-doctor-natividad-castro