MANILA - The human rights of former matinee idol Mark Anthony Fernandez may have been violated when he was presented to the media Tuesday afternoon without a lawyer present, argued her stepmother, actress Lorna Tolentino.

Speaking with ABS-CBN News' Mario Dumaual, the screen veteran said, without going into details, that she is currently consulting her legal team regarding the case of her stepson, who was arrested Monday evening in Pampanga for alleged possession of a kilo of marijuana.

Under the Republic Act No. 7438, or the Rights of Persons Arrested, Detained or under Custodial Investigation, "any person arrested detained or under custodial investigation shall at all times be assisted by counsel."

On Tuesday, police officers interviewed Fernandez, who admitted that he uses marijuana for medical purposes as suggested by his doctor and father, without a lawyer in front of reporters.

At one point, Pampanga Regional Police head Aaron Aquino suggested that Fernandez's doctor should be charged as well for telling the actor that he can freely use the illegal substance.

Fernandez is represented by Atty. Sylvia Flores, who claimed to have not been informed by the police regarding the media presentation of her client.

Meanwhile, action star Robin Padilla, Fernandez's uncle, said he was relieved when he learned that his nephew was not killed when he was being apprehended.

“Purihin ang Panginoong Maylikha, mahal kong Pamangkin... Nakahinga ako nang maluwag at naglulumuhod sa pasasalamat sa nag-iisang Dios na makapangyarihan at ikaw ay buhay, Mark. Hindi kami mapapatawad ng tatay mo kung may nangyaring masama sa iyo,” Padilla wrote.

He then thanked Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa and the Angeles City PNP for handling Fernandez’s case properly.

Fernandez, the son of actress Alma Moreno and the late actor Rudy Fernandez, claimed that the marijuana found in his car was planted. This, after admitting in an interview a day before that he bought the illegal substance for P15,000.