Environment activists and researchers
Philippines
Jonila and Jhed are young environment activists and researchers from Manila, Philippines. They were abducted in September 2023 by armed men while volunteering with an environmental justice advocacy group to collect data about fishing communities affected by reclamation projects in the Manila Bay. Dredging and reclamation projects in Manila have been criticised for threatening coastal ecosystems and traditional livelihoods of artisanal fisher communities. After over two weeks of disappearance, Jhed and Jonila were released after appearing at a government press conference, where they accused the military of abducting them and coercing them to falsely confess to being leftist organisers.