Ombudsman junks activist Reina Mae Nasino's complaint vs PNP, BJMP

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23) — The Office of the Ombudsman has junked the complaint filed by activist Reina Mae Nasino against personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) for lack of probable cause and substantial evidence.

Nasino had accused 18 policemen and 8 BJMP officers of maltreatment of prisoners, grave coercion, torture, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and oppression.

In July, a Manila court cleared Nasino and her two companions, Alma Moran and Ram Bautista, of charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

READ: Court clears Reina Mae Nasino, 2 other activists of illegal possession of firearms, explosives 

The three were arrested on Nov. 5, 2019 and freed in December 2020.

READ: Activist Reina Mae Nasino released from jail 

Nasino was pregnant at the time of her arrest. She was separated from her daughter, River Nasino, after giving birth while under detention. In October 2020, three-month-old River died from acute respiratory distress syndrome.

READ: Baby River Nasino laid to rest, but road to burial filled with tension