protect human rights.’71 The case of Reinna led to the filing of a bill in Congress addressing the situation and protection needs of incarcerated mothers. More recently, another mother came into the limelight as she was arrested and detained together with her son. Amanda Echanis, daughter of slain activist Randy Echanis was arrested last 2 December 2020 in Baggao, Cagayan. Amanda is a peasant organizer, and mother to a one month old son. She was arrested for charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, all of which she denies and assert that these were planted. The arrest of Amanda and her incarceration with her son prompted groups to call for justice and vigilance - recalling the case of Baby River. On the part of the CHR, as Gender Ombud it called for consideration of the baby of Amanda stating ‘Considering that Echanis just gave birth, CHR reminds concerned authorities to give primordial consideration to the welfare of the one-month-old baby as required by the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders or the Bangkok Rules.’72 Before the year ended and as part of the Commission’s continuing monitoring of the situation of women deprived of liberty, the CHR-GEWHRC partnered with Kapatid in reaching out to women political prisoners. Letters were sent by the Commission to wardens of female dormitories seeking permission to send out our sectoral monitoring form to women political prisoners. The questionnaires, like other sectoral monitoring questionnaires focused on women’s narratives detailing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those who responded to the questionnaires was Reinna Mae Nasino who spoke about the very limited access to hygiene kits inside detention facilities. She wrote ‘May panahon din na naubusan ang mga PDL ng sanitary napkins noong panahong buntis pa ako. Maramin gumagamit ng pasador mula sa ginunting nilang damit. Dahil hindi ko pa kailangan ang napkin, ipinamigay ko nalang’ (There was also a time, when I was pregnant that the supply of sanitary napkins for PDLs ran out. Many women used cut up clothes as washable napkins. Since I have no need for sanitary napkins, I gave them away). 73 Reinna also shared how she was unable to access pre and post-natal care during detention and the impact of the Court’s ruling denying her request to visit her child who subsequently died. She wrote ‘Kahit sa panganganak ko, ito na yung kinakatakutan ko dahil pinagkait din na pagsamahin kami ng anak ko. Hanggang sa namatay yung anak ko. Nagtatalo yung damdamin ko. Gusto kong tumakbo papunta sa anak ko pero di ko magawa dahil sinampahan ako ng gawa-gawang kaso. Kami ng anak ko ay biktima ng panggigipit ng gobyerno’ (Even during childbirth, this has been my fear because they denied my request to be with my child. Until my daughter’s death. I felt very conflicted. I wanted to run to my child but I can’t because trumped up cases have been filed against me. Me and my child are victims of an oppressive government). The questionnaires for KKK or Kwentong Kababaihan at Krisis from other political prisoners further highlight continuing issues face by women in detention: the continued congestion of detention facilities, scheduled water supply, the limited supply and sometimes absence of hygiene kits, the very limited EDalaw time of 5 minutes, the depression and worry brought about by thinking of the pandemic. their health and safety and the health and safety of their families outside. Access to justice was another recurring issue. With the lockdown of facilities, access to counsel is even more limited and cases further delayed by 71 Araja and Casas. CHR Slams Handling of Nasino. ManilaStandard.Net. 17 October 2020. https://manilastandard.net/news/national/337010/chr-slams-handling-of-nasino-.html 72 Lalu, Gabriel. CHR Calls for consideration to baby of jailed Amanda Echanis. 4 December 2020. Inquirer. Net https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1367930/chr-urges-authorities-to-give-consideration-to-amanda-echanisnewborn-daughter#ixzz6jaqozMw 73 Reinna Nasino. KKK: Kwentong Kababaihan at Krisis. December 2020. 18