Dr. Maria Natividad Castro (File photo) MANILA - The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) remains hopeful that the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 7 in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur would reconsider its decision dismissing the kidnapping and serious illegal charges filed against Dr. Maria Natividad Castro, alias "Dok". In a statement on Thursday, NTF-ELCAC Legal Cooperation Cluster (NTF-ELCAC-LCC) said it is "greatly dismayed" by the dismissal of the charges against Castro, known as the No. 7 regional level communist terrorist group (CTG) priority target and head of the National Health Bureau of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (NPA) based in Barangay Libertad, Butuan City. "It is axiomatic that the positive identification is the bedrock of many pronouncements of guilt, and that it prevails over unsubstantiated denials," the statement read. Castro is being accused of kidnapping and detaining a C
The family of arrested doctor and Lumad advocate, Naty Castro, appealed to allow her to be detained in a hospital due to her health condition, according to GMA’s “24 Oras” report on Thursday.
Two health workers' groups and batchmates of Dr. Natividad "Naty" Castro called for her release, flagging concerns on the doctor's whereabouts after her arrest.