Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

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/1768367676500176809836832220260108220136_c0b3f46b9a92eaaa5052fb81b15691f0650717c608e6521a280cd5723f67af08_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">American activist Chantal Anicoche with soldiers. 2nd Infantry Division, Philippine Army media release<br/></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Representatives from the United States Embassy have conducted a welfare check on American activist Chantal Anicoche, who is currently staying at the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) medical facility, amid allegations from rights groups that she is being held under duress.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/12/rights-groups-reject-army-claim-on-american-activist-s-voluntary-stay-in-camp-1557">Rights groups reject Army claim on American activist’s &#x27;voluntary&#x27; stay in camp</a></div><p>According to 2ID spokesperson Colonel Michael Aquino, embassy officials on Sunday visited the camp to personally assess Anicoche’s condition.</p><p>“The US Embassy is happy with what they saw,” Aquino told defense reporters in a virtual interview.</p><p>Aquino reiterated that Anicoche’s stay at the 2ID Station Hospital is voluntary, saying she executed a written undertaking stating that she wanted to be admitted to the facility without intimidation or force.</p><p>“Here in 2ID, we honor that undertaking because the Army is always on the side of human rights. We put primacy on the rights of a person,” he said.</p><p>The welfare visit comes as rights groups staged protests outside Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City and Camp Capinpin in Tanay, appealing for Anicoche’s immediate release and claiming she remains under military jurisdiction.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FREE TO GO</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Aquino dismissed these allegations, saying they were contradicted by both the embassy’s assessment and documentation executed in the presence of an independent third-party lawyer from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).</p><p>“All things are covered legally. Whatever scrutiny you do, it can stand legal scrutiny,” he 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>The spokesman also pointed to photos released by the 2ID showing Anicoche’s condition, saying these did not support claims that she was being coerced.</p><p>Anicoche was reported to have gone eight days without food and water before she was found following the January 1 encounter between government troops and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro.</p><p>While Anicoche remains a person of interest in the encounter, Aquino said this does not restrict her freedom.</p><p>“She has an option. She’s not restricted,” he explained. “If she’s okay, we can’t hold her.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MANHUNT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Army continues to search for Anicoche’s companions, believed to include more than ten students, while investigation into the encounter remains ongoing.</p><p>“As of this period, security operations in Abra de Ilog remain ongoing to ensure the safety of local communities and to prevent remnant armed groups from regaining a foothold in the area,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said in a press briefing on Tuesday.</p><p>The AFP also strongly rejected accusations from groups Kabataan, Karapatan and Migrante, and challenged them to conduct their own “fair investigation.”</p><p>“The AFP categorically rejects accusations and misleading narratives regarding this incident. These claims distort the facts and seek to undermine legitimate security operations carried out in defense of peace and public safety,” Padilla said.</p><p>“Ang Kabataan, Migrante and Karapatan should answer to this. Perhaps, they should investigate on this and they have a lot of explaining to do to the Filipino people,” the official continued. </p><p>“We want to protect the youth na hindi na maulit pa ang ganitong panlilinlang. Hinihikayat namin ang mga grupong ito to conduct their own fair investigation and inform the Filipino public accordingly of the result of such investigation.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHY WAS ANICOCHE THERE?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Padilla further raised questions about Anicoche’s presence in conflict areas.</p><p>“Ang tanong dito: Why would a US citizen be here in the Philippines, and—from the Philippines—be even in conflict zones, particularly Mindoro? Tinitingnan natin ito. For the AFP, what we are looking at is the grand scheme of things—how each puzzle piece fits in this bigger picture and bakit itong mga grupong ito ay nagki-create ng malaking ingay to perhaps deviate issues,” she said.</p><p>“We call on the parents, teachers, academic institutions and community leaders to take an active role in safeguarding our young people,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ui_A_5uSOu0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The AFP said it strongly rejects accusations from groups Kabataan, Karapatan and Migrante, and challenged them to conduct their own “fair investigation.”</p>

The AFP said it strongly rejects accusations from groups Kabataan, Karapatan and Migrante, and challenged them to conduct their own “fair investigation.”

US Embassy checks on Anicoche as military refutes forced detention 'narrative'

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US Embassy checks on Anicoche as military refutes forced detention 'narrative'

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 14, 2026 01:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Army

Armed Forces of the Philippines

2nd Infantry Division

Chantal Anicoche

US Embassy

Occidental Mindoro

encounter

welfare check

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