Rosal seeks court’s nod to attend baby’s wake, burial

MANILA, Philippines - Alleged New People’s Army (NPA) leader Andrea Rosal asked the Pasig City regional trial court (RTC) to allow her to attend the wake and burial of her newborn daughter.

Rosal, a daughter of the late NPA spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal, said in a four-page urgent motion filed before RTC Branch 266 Judge Toribio Ilao that she remains “distressed, devastated, and inconsolable” after she was not given the chance to see her daughter after she gave birth at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) at about 8 a.m. on May 17.

Rosal’s daughter, Diona Andrea, died of hypoxemia (low oxygen level in the blood) at around 5 p.m. the following day.

According to the motion, the baby was put in PGH’s natal intensive care unit immediately after birth. Rosal “was not given the… chance to see her baby daughter while she was still alive,” the motion stated.

Rosal, 31, asked the court’s permission for her to attend her baby’s wake at the Church of the Risen Lord at the University of the Philippines’ Diliman, Quezon City campus today and burial tomorrow in her hometown of Ibaan, Batangas.

The Pasig court earlier ordered Rosal’s confinement at the PGH. She had been detained in Camp Bagong Diwa after she was arrested in Caloocan City on March 27.

Rosal – who is wanted for kidnapping, murder and attempted homicide by a Quezon City court – was arrested along with Rafael de Guzman and barangay chairman Ruben Gatchalian.

Sympathy

Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said they are sympathizing with Rosal over the death of her newborn child, born prematurely.

“While Andrea was arrested for kidnapping, murder and attempted homicide, her dead daughter has nothing to do with all her cases,” he said.

Zagala called on critics not to use the child’s death “for their propaganda in their attack against the government,” adding that Rosal’s arrest and detention was in accordance with the country’s legal processes.

On the other hand, Gabriela party-list Reps. Luzviminda Ilagan and Emmerenciana de Jesus said yesterday President Aquino can be held liable for the death of Rosal’s daughter under international conventions and the anti-torture law.

“The Geneva Convention… specifically takes into consideration the conditions of pregnant women and provides for the accommodation of their needs during detention,” they said, adding that Rosal’s custodians may be held liable for the deprivation of medical attention under Republic Act 9745. – With Jaime Laude, Paolo Romero