Loren appeals for judicial humanitarianism: Allow Judilyn to nurse her baby boy in a hospital rooming-in facility

August 21, 2010

SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA TODAY APPEALED FOR JUDICIAL HUMANITARIANISM AND CALLED ON THE JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW A NURSING MOTHER JUDILYN OLIVEROS TO BE WITH HER NEW BORN BABY AND ENJOY ROOMING-IN FACILITIES IN A HOSPITAL.
Judilyn Oliveros was one of the health workers dubbed as “Morong 43” who were charged in Court and suspected to be linked with communist rebels. Judilyn gave birth to a baby boy. In a recent report, the court denied her motion, despite lack of opposition from the prosecutors, to stay in a hospital with her baby boy, thus, was poised to be transferred back to Camp Bagong Diwa for her continued detention.
In appealing for Judicial Humanitarianism, Loren cited Republic Act No. 7600 “The Rooming-In and Breast-Feeding Act of 1992” as amended by Republic Act No. 10028 the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009” which established the State policy and right of a mother the practice of breastfeeding her new-born child. The law provides mother and child to enjoy an environment where basic physical, emotional, and psychological needs of mothers and infants are fulfilled through the practice of rooming-in and breastfeeding. Said Loren, “these rights cannot be available inside a jail facility where conditions are bad, ventilation and sanitation is poor and there are reports about the spread of tuberculosis among inmates”.
Loren continues to champion women’s and children’s rights and has authored and co-authored several bills enacted into law in pursuit of such advocacy. Among these were the Magna Carta for Women, the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009, theAnti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Anti-Child Labor Law.