Article published on the People’s Health Movement website.
1. Who are Dr Ana Rilloraza and Mr Marc Mendiola?
Dr Ana Rilloraza is a rare example of a community doctor, having chosen to specialise in community medicine straight out of medical school in order to serve marginalised communities in rural areas. Her patients included indigenous peoples, rural communities living in poverty, and those trapped in disaster-stricken and militarised areas. Her history of service included working in the Mangyan communities of Oriental Mindoro, where she had also volunteered whilst still a medical student as a co-founder of the medical student organisation PAGSAMA at the University of the Philippines – Manila College of Medicine, and in the Cordillera region whilst serving with the Community Health Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE). She was also a member of the academic staff in the Department of Community Medicine at St Louis University in Baguio, and served as a spokesperson for the Save the Abra River Movement (STARM); she brought local struggles – particularly those centred on the wanton destruction of the environment caused by large-scale mining – to global forums, including the People’s Health Movement forum in Mumbai, India in 2004 and the People’s Health Assembly in Cuenca, Ecuador, in 2005.
Mr Marc Mendiola is a community journalist, health worker and campaigner, who was known for his fearless reporting on human rights violations during the Arroyo administration, exposing injustice and amplifying the voices of the oppressed. He served as Chair of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines in Baguio-Benguet. After completing his degree in psychology, he continued his work as a community health organiser and eventually became a coordinator for the Alliance of Health Workers in Baguio-Benguet. His work included providing psychological first aid, mental health education, and steadfast support to health workers fighting for fair wages and humane working conditions.
Further information on both of them can be found in the attached statement issued by PHM Philippines. You can also access and follow the campaign page for their release on Facebook via the link below.
2. What happened?
Both a health worker, Dr Ana Marie Rilloraza, and a community journalist, Mr Marc Arriane Mendiola, from networks affiliated with PHM Philippines, were unjustly arrested on 11 March 2026 during a joint operation by the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division.
The arrests were carried out on the basis of fabricated charges for which bail was not an option, and without a warrant. At a time when those who set up alternative healthcare systems are few and far between, and access to services is severely limited in remote communities, this amounts to the criminalisation of humanitarian and community service.
3. The Campaign
It has been weeks since their unjust arrest. With this in mind, we hope you will show your support for the campaign to secure their release. You can do this by:
– Supporting the Facebook page – follow it here
– Join the SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN (https://forms.gle/UF12ybKB418y4DqWA) in support of the petition for their release
– Share the campaign with your networks
Humanitarian and healthcare work for those who are underserved should not be misconstrued as «terrorism»! Hands off our healthcare workers – Free Dr Ana and Marc!
