SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna – Human rights groups raised concerns about possible human rights violations following the Philippine military’s admission of their custody of missing Filipino-American youth activist Chantal Anicoche, January 9.

Anicoche, 24, was reported missing after the AFP’s 203rd Infantry Brigade, 76th Infantry Battalion and 1st Infantry Battalion rained bombs and bullets on Sitio Mamara, barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, killing four and injuring one. Anicoche is a youth activist and recent graduate from the University of Maryland Baltimore County who went to the Philippines to integrate with the indigenous Mangyan community and investigate their conditions.

On January 8, the 2nd Infantry Division released footage of Anicoche, claiming that they found her during a search operation in the area. Col. Michael Aquino confirmed that Anicoche is currently held by the military in the 2nd IDPA’s headquarters in Camp Mateo Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal province. 

The circumstances surrounding Anicoche’s surfacing have raised serious concerns from human rights organizations. Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay called it “baffling” that Anicoche would be found a week later despite the presence of four military battalions in the area. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan USA also asked why it took one week for the AFP to find Anicoche if she was found “only 500 meters from the site of the army’s attack.”

Migrante International also called the AFP’s narrative questionable. “Given the military’s overwhelming blockade of Sitio Mamara,” the group said, “the public cannot ascertain whether the videos of the AFP discovering Chantal were staged or otherwise.” They noted that there is a possibility that Anicoche was taken during the ground operations in Brgy. Cabacao.

“The alarm raised by human rights and migrant groups on Chantal’s disappearance on January 6 may have prompted the 203rd Infantry Brigade to surface her … in an attempt to avoid suspicions that they held Chantal from the public for days on end,” they added.

Karapatan and Migrante International also noted that the soldiers’ conduct during the operation pointed to “the presumption of guilt and atmosphere of intimidation.” In the video, soldiers implied the presence of firearms and explosives in the area and told Anicoche to “tell the truth” and “cooperate” with them. The AFP’s statements also called Anicoche as a “person of interest.”

Bayan USA noted that trumped-up charges are often used to “silence people who are witness to government crimes,” adding that the Philippine government “readily turns to lies and repression to cover up its crimes against the people.”

As of press time, Migrante International and Karapatan Southern Tagalog are leading a quick response team to ascertain Anicoche’s condition and to demand her immediate release. A team is now at Camp Capinpin but being refused access to Anicoche.

“It is important that [Anicoche] be given unrestricted access to an independent humanitarian team to look into her physical and mental condition, as well a legal counsel of her choice to ensure her safety and immediate release,” human rights watchdog Karapatan Southern Tagalog said in its statement. 

“There is no lawful justification for Chantal Anicoche to remain in military custody,” Palabay asserted in a statement. “Her rights must be respected at all times, and her safety and physical and psychological integrity must never be compromised by any form of duress or pressure.”

Karapatan has called on the Commission on Human Rights, independent, and international bodies to conduct an independent investigation on Anicoche’s condition and the New Year’s operations in Cabacao, which the human rights alliance and other groups have described as “overkill.”

According to Karapatan’s fact-finding mission, the bombing resulted in the deaths of three Mangyan-Iraya children while their mother was left injured. A student researcher, Jerlyn Rose Doydora, also died due to medical complications while trying to flee. At least 769 individuals were forced to evacuate during the military operations.

Anicoche sought to research the conditions of indigenous communities in Mindoro after “being inspired to pursue her passions and volunteer in the Philippines” when a series of typhoons hit the country last year. She is a member of the Filipino American Student Association, a student organization in UMBC, and was active in campaigning for the Philippine Human Rights Act. (RVO)