2 months ago
42
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
January 14, 2026 | 2:26pm
MANILA, Philippines — A Cagayan court has ordered the release of peasant advocate Amanda Echanis.
The Tuguegarao City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 granted her release after she spent five years in detention following her 2020 arrest.
"The Warden of the Cagayan Provincial Jail is hereby ordered to immediately RELEASE the accused from detention unless her continued detention is justified by law," the court's order read.
She was acquitted of charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and illegal possession of explosives.
What happened before? Echanis was arrested on Dec. 2, 2020, following a raid on the home of Josephine Buco in Barangay Caruppian, Baggao, where she was staying.
Police alleged they recovered an M16 assault rifle, magazines, ammunition and two hand grenades from a room allegedly occupied by Echanis.
Echanis, an activist and researcher on climate change and farmers' issues, testified that the charges were "trumped-up." At the time of her arrest, she was breastfeeding her newborn son.
Ruling. In acquitting Echanis, the court found that the police failed to comply with the "hierarchy of witnesses" rule under the Rules of Court.
"The court evaluated the facts as presented by both sides, and the court found that the law enforcers' actions demonstrated a patent lack of substantial compliance with this rule," the court's ruling read.
Although Echanis and the homeowner were present, the court pointed out that they were ordered to stay in the kitchen and were precluded from witnessing the search of the bedrooms.
Even the barangay captain, who arrived later, admitted he could not see what the search team was doing inside the rooms.
The court further questioned the integrity of the operation due to several significant irregularities. It noted that a "critical window" was created when police arrived at the house at 5 a.m. but delayed the formal search until 8:30 a.m., leaving the premises unmonitored and effectively compromised.
This concern was compounded by the defense's unrebutted testimony describing how armed, masked men entered the home hours before the official search and were seen placing a yellow sack, which was later found to contain the rifle, near a bedroom door.
Finally, the court highlighted a lack of documentation, pointing out that the prosecution failed to provide any photographs of the actual discovery of the rifle or grenades despite having a designated photographer on-site for the operation.
"Hence, taking the totality of these circumstances into account - that the mandatory 'hierarchy of witnesses' was bypassed, that there was a delay in the conduct of the search, that there was a lack of transparency and documentation of the very core of the operation, which is the actual search," the court's ruling read.
Reactions. For Gabriela Women's Partylist, the release of Echanis proves what human rights advocates have maintained, which says that cases against her are "fabricated and supported by planted evidence."
"Malinaw na pinatunayan ng desisyon ng korte na gawa-gawa ang mga kasong isinampa kay Amanda. Nanaig ang hustisya dahil sa patuloy na sama-samang pagkilos," Rep. Sarah Elago (Gabriela Women's Partylist) said in a statement.
(The court's decision clearly proved that the cases filed against Amanda were fabricated. Justice prevailed because of continued collective action.)
Human rights group Karapatan also welcomed the court's decision.
"The acquittal of Amanda Echanis is a resounding indictment of the military and police's campaign of political repression and fabrication of charges and evidence," Karapatan Secretary-General Cristina Palabay said.
"This ruling confirms what we have long maintained: Amanda is innocent, and the charges against her were maliciously manufactured to punish her work among peasants and women," she added.
