She was arrested at her home on Friday, and accused of being part of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ central committee. “Karapatan denounces the arrest of human rights and health worker Dr. Naty Castro as yet another form of attack against human rights defenders,” the group said, referring to Castro by her nickname. While the practice is not new in the Philippines, it has intensified under President Rodrigo Duterte, according to rights groups. On Facebook, Castro’s brother insisted she was just a health worker who had served indigenous communities. “My sister is accused of multiple charges of kidnapping and illegal detention, all related to her human rights advocacy.

Source: The Guardian February 19, 2022 08:14 UTC