Nicolene S. Arcaina is a 30-year-old from the Philippines. As a lawyer at the Center for International Law, she was lead counsel defense for Efren Morillo, one of the first known survivors of the War on Drugs, who was eventually acquitted of a fabricated direct assault charge. Morillo’s case against the police emerged as a symbol of resistance and hope that the senseless War on Drugs will cease to exist. She was also lead case analyst for the San Andres Bukid case, which was a killing field because of the War on Drugs. Finally, she was lead community coordinator and analyst for processing the victims’ views and participation before the International Criminal Court, and co-counsel in strategic litigation cases against the Anti-Terrorism Act, which targets “red-tagged” individuals.
As the executive director of the Ateneo Human Rights Center, Nicolene spearheaded an intern program that supported 37 new law student interns in 2024 and led the planning and piloting of human rights-focused clinics, such as an environmental justice defense network and a trial monitoring clinic. She helps facilitate campaigns, psychosocial and legal support for over 400 individuals impacted by the War on Drugs.
