Medical school batchmates of Lumad advocate Naty Castro call for her release, end to intimidation

Dr. Natividad "Naty" Castro's batchmates in medical school on Friday demanded that she be released from detention immediately, saying the charges against her were related to her work.

Castro was arrested by the authorities in San Juan City earlier in the day on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by a court in Agusan del Sur on allegations of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

"These charges filed against her were all related to her work as a doctor and as a human rights and development worker," the UP College of Medicine Class of 1995 said in a statement.

"The UP College of Medicine Class of 1995 call for the immediate end to the harassment and intimidation tactics that are being used against Dr. Naty Castro and her family. We call for the immediate dismissal of the charges against Dr. Naty Castro and her immediate release from police custody." 

They said Castro is "not an ordinary doctor."

"She is a servant leader actively involved in health and human rights and working towards providing health care for all by serving in rural and geographically isolated areas," the statement said.

However, the police claimed Castro is a ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

In a Facebook post, Jun Castro, brother of the arrested doctor, appealed for help and said the charges are "all untrue." — VBL, GMA News