Fiscals told: Don't oppose 'Morong 43' motion

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered prosecutors handling the case against the so-called “Morong 43” to withdraw their opposition to a motion seeking to allow one of the health workers to be with her newborn baby.

De Lima, however, said it is still up to the Morong regional trial court to decide whether to grant the motion for Judilyn Oliveros, who gave birth last July 22 at the Philippine General Hospital, to be with her son for humanitarian reasons.

“For humanitarian reasons, I agreed that she (Oliveros) should first stay with her child,” she said.

The Public Interest Law Center and the National Union of People’s Lawyers filed the motion for Oliveros’ release in recognizance.

Oliveros was among 43 community workers who were arrested during a military raid in a Rizal farmhouse last February. They were accused of being communist rebels conducting training in handling explosives.