repressive implementation of lockdown policies, red-tagging and militarization, violence against women, the threats of the anti-terror bill, and access to education and other basic services by IP women during the pandemic.67 Women in Detention, Women Political Detainees During the height of the crisis, another group of vulnerable and marginalized women are those who are deprived of liberty. Around 21 April 2020, a little over a month into the ECQ, the Bureau of Corrections announced that 19 more people inside the jail facility have tested positive for COVID-19, around the same period, Quezon City Jail also reported COVID-19 infections among nine inmates and nine jail staff.68 The situation of persons deprived of liberty, including women PDLs has been described as a ticking bomb considering the congested state of places of detention and the ease by which the virus could spread if proper health protocols are not in place. As part of the Commission’s monitoring of places of detention, the Center wrote a letter inquiry/advisory to the BJMP inquiring on the situation of women deprived of liberty, inquiries also included measures adopted by BJMP to protect detainees from the virus. The response from the BJMP showed that containment measures have been adopted and provisions for electronic-dalaw (visit) has been established in some facilities. However, the BJMP admits that space in congested facilities remain a concern. While the Supreme Court issued a circular to fast track release of qualified PDLs, the process remain slow while women detainees face heightened risk of infection and mental health issues and anxieties. The precarious situation of women in detention during a period of pandemic is further highlighted in the cases of Reinna Nasino and Baby River and more currently, the case of the recently arrested and detained Amanda Echannis and her son. To recall, Reinna Nasino was arrested in November 2019 for alleged possessio of firearms and explosives, non- bailable offenses. She was pregnant while in detention, giving birth to her daughter in 1 July of 2020 - amidst the pandemic. Reinna caught media attention when she was separated from her newborn daughter River, who was later diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.69 Baby River died on 9 October 2020, while Reinna was seeking Court permission to be be able to see her. This was followed by the Court’s reducing the initial grant of 3 day to furlough for Reinna to 6 hours - sparking outage and calls for justice for both Reinna as a woman human rights defender and for Baby River. The Commission for its part expressed deep concern over the State’s handling of Reinna’s case, reminding them of the Mandela and Bangkok Rules in on the minimum rules for the treatment of detention prisoners, and of the importance for duty bearers to ‘put in mind the best interest of the child’ in decisions to allow children to stay with their mother in prison in accordance with Bangkok Rules.70 The Commission, through Executive Director Jacqueline De Guia also took the opportunity to reiterate its concern over ‘threats to lives, liberty, and security, both online and offline, against individuals and groups working to promote and 67 See series of webinars posted in Lilak’s FB page: https://www.facebook.com/katutubonglilak/; See also Martinez, Bianca ‘COVID-19 exposes twin crises of Neoliberalism and Authoritarianism in Philippines.’ 7 May 2020. https://focusweb.org/covid-19-exposes-twin-crises-of-neoliberalism-and-authoritarianism-in-philippines/ 68 CNN. 18 inmates, one jail worker in Women's Correctional contract COVID-19. 21 April 2020. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/21/Women-s-Correctional-more-COVID-19-infections.html 69 Hallare, Katrina. CHR looking into Nasino case, ‘ deeply concerned on how government is handling it. 19 October 2020. Inquirer. Net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1348691/chr-looking-into-nasino-case-deeply-concerned-on-how-govt-ishandling-it#ixzz6jaXkh0Xc 70 Hallare, Katrina, see note 69; 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 17