Judilyn and her baby boy have been transferred from Camp Bagong Diwa to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). The court granted her appeal to continue post-natal care and breastfeeding of her newborn outside of prison for three months.
Carina ‘Judilyn’ Oliveros is one of the 43 Health Workers who were illegally arrested while undergoing community health training. She was pregnant at that time and experienced torture and interrogation despite her delicate situation. Like Judilyn, Mercy Castro who is also one of the 43, is expecting to give birth in October while in detention despite the unsanitary condition inside jail.
ARCSEA, along with other breast feeding and child rights advocates, believe that Judilyn’s case should be reviewed by the court to avoid her future incarceration and possible separation with her child after the three month period.
According to Madella Santiago, ARCSEA Executive Director, “Today, being the end of the Breastfeeding Month, we organized a visit to Judilyn and her baby boy, inviting doctors and other child rights advocates to support her and encourage her to continue breast feeding.”
Santiago also called for support concerning the best interest of the child. “A healthy and peaceful environment with love and nourishment coming from the mother is a basic right of a child. We should all stand and unite to support the call against all forms of human rights violation especially on children. We call on the Government to utterly perform its important role in defending the rights of its people. We strongly call for the release of Judilyn and her baby and the rest of the illegally detained health workers, now!”