The Free Doc Ana! Free Marc! Campaign marked June 26, the International Global Day of Solidarity with Survivors of Torture by issuing a sharp and uncompromising statement: “Torture is never justified, never acceptable, and must never be normalized under any circumstance.”
The campaign highlights the plight of Dr. Ana Marie Rilloraza and Marc Mendiola, arrested on March 11, 2026 alongside six others in coordinated operations by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Tarlac City and Quezon City.
Upon arrest, Marc declared he had a pacemaker. Despite this, he and four male companions were subjected to brutal treatment: repeated blows to the head and chest, punches to the face and abdomen, suffocation with plastic bags, and forcible restraint on the ground. These acts, documented by rights groups, constitute torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
The campaign stresses that torture is a grave violation of human dignity, inflicting not only physical pain but also lasting psychological harm. It undermines the rule of law and erodes the foundations of justice and democracy. “No security concern, political objective, or legal allegation can ever excuse acts of torture,”the statement reads.
On this day of remembrance, the campaign calls on governments, security forces, and justice systems worldwide to end abusive practices in detention, strengthen protections against torture, and uphold the dignity of every person. # (ZIA LUNA)
