Tovic Salvador

Fil-Am found near military-NPA clash leaves PH

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Filipino-American Chantal Anicoche, who was found near the site of an armed encounter between government troops and communist rebels in Occidental Mindoro, has left the Philippines.The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC ) on Saturday confirmed Anicoche&#x27;s departure following an Order to Leave issued by the Bureau of Immigration.Anicoche is a US citizen of Filipino descent and does not hold Filipino citizenship.She was found alive near the site of the January 1 armed encounter between government forces and a unit of the NPA, where a young student died, while another was declared missing, according to the NTF-ELCAC. She was accounted for, medically attended to, and processed in accordance with Philippine laws, the task force added.&quot;It is important to note that the decision was not arbitrary, nor was it a political act. It was based on information that emerged during lawful processing, including Chantal’s own disclosures regarding her activities and affiliations,&quot; NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Usec. Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement.&quot;She said that she traveled to the Philippines with the intention of linking up with the New People’s Army and that she was in an NPA camp in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, at the time of an armed encounter where two government soldiers were wounded,&quot; Torres added.The task force claimed Anicoche acknowledged involvement with organizations abroad that function as part of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ international political and support network. &quot;The Order to Leave is an immigration measure grounded in law. It is not a declaration of innocence, nor an endorsement of narratives that try to portray this case as political persecution or heroism. At the same time, it also means that relevant institutions in the Philippines or abroad have the right to assess the matter further within their respective legal frameworks, especially that both the CPP and the NPA are designated terrorist organizations under Philippine law and are similarly recognized as such by other governments, including the United States,&#x27;&quot; said Torres.&quot;With Ms. Anicoche’s departure, responsibility for any further engagement now properly rests with her home country and her family. The Philippine government has fully discharged its obligation to handle the matter lawfully, transparently, and humanely,&quot; he added.

Filipino-American Chantal Anicoche, who was found near the site of an armed encounter between government troops and communist rebels in Occidental Mindoro, has left the Philippines.

Filipino-American Chantal Anicoche, who was found near the site of an armed encounter between government troops and communist rebels in Occidental Mindoro, has left the Philippines.