Association for the Rights of Children in Southeast Asia

# 17 Batino St., Alley 1, Bgy. Amihan, Project 3, Quezon City

e-mail:arcsea_childrightssea@yahoo.com.ph

www.childrightssea.org

NEWS LETTER

RE: A VISIT TO JUDILYN AND BABY BILLY OLIVEROS AT PGH

In accordance to Sec. 16 of the Republic Act 10028 also known as the “Breastfeeding Awareness Month”, the Association for the Rights of Children in Southeast Asia (ARCSEA) along with PGH Doctors, Breastfeeding and Child Rights Advocates, visited Judilyn Oliveros and her baby last August 31 at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) after the Morong Regional Trial Court granted her plea on the 25^th of August for the continuation of her breastfeeding for only a period of three months in the hospital.

Judilyn Oliveros is one of the 43 Health Workers who were arrested last February 6 while undergoing community health training at Morong, Rizal. She was four months pregnant at that time when they were illegally arrested, tortured, and detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal before they were transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan. Judilyn gave birth to a baby boy last July at the PGH on a Caesarian delivery. Less than a month after giving birth she was sent back to jail with her new born baby.

During the actual day of our visit, there were four BJMP police officers guarding Judilyn at the hospital. Three policemen were staying outside the room to search and log the names of the visitors, while one female officer, who stays inside her room, is in-charge to do the search to female visitors. Only five persons per hour who must have an identification card are allowed to stay in the room to visit Judilyn and her baby. 

Judilyn remains subject to incarceration after her three-month stay in PGH while there is still no clear decision whether the baby will be staying with her or not. What’s apparent is the violation of Baby Billy Oliveros’ basic right to freedom, a healthy and peaceful environment, and his proper nutrition and care from his mother. Judilyn is treated like a common criminal. She is roughly being punished, together with her child, by the government which causes so much spleen not only to her family and colleagues but also to child rights advocates and breastfeeding advocates. 

 It is very painful to imagine the inhumane condition that Judilyn and Baby Billy Oliveros is experiencing. This only manifest that the new government remains uncommitted with the vast and growing number of victims of human rights violations in our country. Nonetheless, the resentment that Judilyn feels together with the remaining hundreds of political detainees and their families and also the people, who believe that injustices must end, should unite and stand and continually assert for freedom. #### 

A VISIT TO A NURTURING MOM: IN COMMEMORATION OF THE BREASTFEEDING MONTH

Reference: Madella T. Santiago, Executive Director

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!”###

Association for the Rights of Children in Southeast Asia

# 17 Batino St., Alley 1, Bgy. Amihan, Project 3, Quezon City 

e-mail:arcsea_childrightssea@yahoo.com.ph 

www.childrightssea.org 

NEWS RELEASE

August 26, 2010

BREAST FEEDING ADVOCATES SAY: 3 MONTHS IS GOOD BUT INSUFFICIENT!

Reference: Madella T. Santiago, Executive Director

The Association for the Rights of Children in South East Asia (ARCSEA) believes that the court’s decision to grant “hospital arrest” to a nursing detainee is to the best interest of a newborn child but is still insufficient.

August which has been set by Republic Act 10028 or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009,”  as Breastfeeding Awareness Month of each year, should be a celebration for breast feeding mothers but not for Carina “Judilyn” Oliveros who is living in fear and anxiousness before the court has reached its decision.

Judilyn, one of the 43 illegally detained Health Workers gave birth to his son last July. Less than a month, after giving birth at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), she has been moved to Camp Bagong Diwa with her newborn baby. Yesterday, Presiding Judge Gina F. Cenit-Escoto of the Morong Regional Trial Court Branch 78 finally granted Judilyn’s plea to breastfeed her month-old son ‘Baby Boy Oliveros’ upon hospital arrest at the PGH for a period of three months.

According to Madella Santiago, ARCSEA Executive Director, “The lower court’s decision is a positive development on Judilyn and her son’s case. But on the other hand, the three month period for breast feeding is still not enough. It is highly recommended that breastfeeding should at least be a minimum of six months. Furthermore, the nursing mother and the infant should be in a stress-free environment while providing postnatal care.”

“ARCSEA  believes that breastfeeding is very essential for the growth and development of an infant. There can be no substitute for the nutritional benefits and the bond between mother and child which can be developed during breastfeeding. This is the reason why we fear what will happen with Judilyn and her son after three months,” Santiago continued.

Santiago also said, “Like Judilyn, Mercy Castro who is also one of the detained 43 Health Workers is now seven months pregnant and is due to give birth on October. We are also worried whether Mercy and her baby will go through what Judilyn and her baby are experiencing.”

“Although the court’s decision is positive, we are still hoping that newborn infants like Baby Boy Oliveros and Mercy Castro’s child could attain their right to proper nutrition and be not separated from their mothers. Child Rights advocates should unite and push for the government to humanely act on issues like this and free the illegally detained health workers now!’ Santiago concluded. ###