Dr. Natividad Castro The regional trial court (RTC) of Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur has reinstated the kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against Dr. Maria Natividad “Naty” Castro, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Wednesday, June 22. In statement, the DOJ’s Office of the
Almost three months since her release from prison, a court in Agusan del Sur has ordered the rearrest of community doctor and human rights worker Ma. Natividad Castro.
"Instead of addressing and supporting our just call for safety, protection, rights and welfare, Usec. Badoy managed to red-tag us. This is grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a government official and as a medical doctor. She has no sympathy with us as her colleagues in the health profession." - Alliance of Health Workers
Serious human rights violations continue in the Philippines. On September 15, 2021, the International Criminal Court (ICC) agreed to open a formal investigation into extrajudicial killings and other abuses that may amount to crimes against humanity committed during President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” from 2016 to 2019, and extrajudicial executions committed in Davao City in the southern Philippines from 2011 to 2016, when Duterte was mayor. Various human rights groups allege that between 12,000 and 30,000 people have been killed in the “drug war.”
A local doctor accused of being a leader of a Maoist rebel group and held in jail for 40 days has been freed after a judge threw out the case, her family said.