Marilyn Cahatol

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Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17682018218861768201821026.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">American activist Chantal Anicoche with soldiers. <em>2nd Infantry Division, Philippine Army media release </em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Human rights groups on Monday questioned the continued stay of American activist Chantal Anicoche at a Philippine Army camp, alleging she is being illegally detained—a claim denied by the military, saying Anicoche voluntarily agreed to remain for medical treatment.</p><p>Speaking during a protest action outside Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Migrante International chairperson Joanna Concepcion said their organization, along with human rights lawyers, attempted to visit Anicoche at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal twice. However, they were denied access, she added.</p><p>“Pinoprotesta namin ngayon dahil siya ay illegally detained sa isang military camp. Wala siyang krimen na ginawa kaya walang legal na basehan para ikulong sa kampo militar,” Concepcion said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/11/-person-of-interest-tag-no-basis-to-hold-fil-am-activist-found-near-clash-site-lawyer-1054">‘Person of interest’ tag no basis to hold Fil-Am activist found near clash site — lawyer</a></div><p>Concepcion alleged that Anicoche’s continued stay in the camp puts her life at risk and questioned the military’s claim that she consented to remain for medical reasons.</p><p>“The Second Infantry Division released a statement saying that Chantal agreed to stay in Camp Capinpin for a medical check-up. But we believe that she signed that document under duress,” she said.</p><p>“May track record na ang militar na kung sila ay may hawak na aktibista, merong coercion, intimidation, harassment at pananakot na nangyayari para pwersahing pumirma ng kahit na anong dokumento,” she continued.</p><p>Concepcion added that their legal team has advised against allowing Anicoche to speak publicly until they are able to personally assess her condition.</p><p>“We would like to see her condition. We would like to speak to her so that we can ascertain her integrity, security and safety,” she said.</p><p>Concepcion further claimed that their group does not believe the military’s account that Anicoche was “rescued,” alleging that she was already arrested on January 1 during the military operations in Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro.</p><p>“Hindi kami naniniwala sa naratibo na nirescue ng military si Chantal. Naniniwala kami na noong unang araw pa lang, pagsapit ng Bagong Taon, nung pinaulanan ng militar ng bomba ang probinsya ng Mindoro ay hawak na nila si Chantal at itinago nila sa publiko,” Concepcion said.</p><p>She went on, “Naniniwala kami na kusang itinatago ng AFP ang ginawa nilang pambobomba sa komunidad ng Mindoro.”</p><p>Human rights groups have reiterated calls for Anicoche’s immediate release, saying there is no lawful reason for her to remain under military custody.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>VOLUNTARY STAY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In a statement, the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) said Anicoche voluntarily signed an Undertaking expressing her intent to stay at the 2ID Station Hospital due to medical needs.</p><p>The division said the document was signed in the presence of an independent third-party lawyer from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).</p><p>Anicoche stated that her decision was voluntary and made without force or intimidation, the division added.</p><p>“The 2nd Infantry Division honors her intent and recognizes the primacy of improving her medical conditions after suffering from difficult physical and mental challenges,” 2ID spokesperson Colonel Michael Aquino said.</p><p>The Army said Anicoche, an American citizen, was rescued by troops of the 203rd Infantry Brigade following armed encounters with suspected New People’s Army members in Abra de Ilog on New Year’s Day.</p><p>According to the military, Anicoche was <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/9/one-week-after-occidental-mindoro-clash-army-finds-missing-fil-am-activist-alive-in-a-pit-0638">found </a>around 400 meters from the encounter site “after being left behind by fleeting NPAs” and had endured eight days without food and water.</p><p>The 2ID added that security operations in Abra de Ilog remain ongoing to ensure the safety of local communities.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S807BBS49YM?si=hBxrgfSnWGUpm_SZ" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Human rights groups on Monday questioned the continued stay of American activist Chantal Anicoche at a Philippine Army camp, alleging she is being illegally detained.</p>

Human rights groups on Monday questioned the continued stay of American activist Chantal Anicoche at a Philippine Army camp, alleging she is being illegally detained.

Rights groups reject Army claim on American activist’s 'voluntary' stay in camp

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Rights groups reject Army claim on American activist’s 'voluntary' stay in camp

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 12, 2026 03:57 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Army

2nd Infantry Division

Occidental Mindoro

CPP-NPA

encounter

Camp Capinpin

Chantal Anicoche

American activist

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