The whereabouts of Dr. Maria Natividad "Naty" Castro, a human rights defender who was arrested on allegedly trumped up charges, has been determined after two of her sisters were able to meet with her at a police station in Agusan Del Sur, the Free Legal Assistance Group said Sunday.
Castro spokewith her sisters at the police headquarters in Bayugan town on Saturday, a day after she was arrested, FLAG said in a statement.
The doctor was apprehended at her home in San Juan City on Friday on the strength of a warrant from the Caraga region, where she served as regional secretary general of human rights group Karapatan.
"As the records of the case are still not available to FLAG because the courts are closed until Monday, FLAG and Doc Naty are still unaware of the exact circumstances of the case that has allegedly been filed against her and the reason for her arrest," the group said.
The lawyers' group said Castro was not a communist nor a terrorist as what the police have been announcing on social media. "She is a health worker who has been helping those who need help most."
The group said it would pursue all available legal remedies to secure Castro's freedom or the immediate dismissal of her case and to bring to justice those who have red-tagged and continue to red-tag her.
ALSO READ: Where is Dr. Naty Castro? Rights Advocate, Barrio Doctor is Arrested
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