Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Anicoche

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — An American activist who went missing after a clash between government troops and rebels in Occidental Mindoro has been found alive but the Philippine Army has classified her as a person of interest in the incident.According to Army 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) spokesperson Col. Michael Aquino, troops returned to the January 1 encounter site to conduct clearing operations when they heard a cry for help and found 24-year-old Chantal Anicoche hiding in the area.“Tinignan ang areas na pwede pang pagtaguan o pagstayan ng individuals. May sumigaw ng ‘Help!’ So, pinuntahan ng mga tropa. Nakita si Chantal. Vinerify at kinonfirm naman na siya si Chantal. Famished siya,” Aquino told reporters in an interview in Tanay, Rizal.<div><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">One week after Occidental Mindoro clash, army finds missing Fil-Am activist alive in a pit </a></div>In a video released by the 203rd Infantry Brigade, Anicoche appeared weak and disoriented as troops repeatedly asked her to confirm her identity.She was then assisted by soldiers, and given food and water.Anicoche is now in the custody of the 2ID at the Camp General Mateo Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. Aquino said she is receiving medical and psychosocial care.The Army is also coordinating with Anicoche’s mother, who lives and works in the United States.“Ngayon, she’s under our custody. She’s safe. We’ve already coordinated with the parent. Cooperating naman siya, even si Chantal,” Aquino said.He then continued, “What’s important is we rescued her. She is now safe and her medical condition is being attended to.”However, the official stressed that Anicoche remains a person of interest due to her presence at the encounter site.<div> </div><div>&#x27;ACTIVIST GROUPS FACILITATED ANICOCHE&#x27;S TRIP TO PH&#x27;</div>Aquino added that based on initial investigation, several activist groups facilitated Anicoche’s travel and stay in the Philippines.“She is all over the internet. She’s an American citizen. And kasamahan niya ang grupong ito na alam naman nating terrorist organization,” Aquino said.“She’s a person of interest dahil nandoon siya sa encounter site.”He went on, “Lumalabas na ang contact niya talaga dito—may organization kasi siya doon, ang Kabataan Alliance. Migrante facilitated her movement here. Pagdating niya dito, sinalubong siya ng Karapatan.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/3/woman-with-alleged-ties-to-partylist-group-killed-in-mindoro-clash-2023">Woman with alleged ties to partylist group killed in Occidental Mindoro clash</a></div>In a statement, human rights alliance Karapatan demanded the immediate release of Anicoche, stressing there is no lawful basis for the Army to hold her under their custody.The group also raised doubts over the Army’s claim that the activist was “allegedly found” in Abra de Ilog on January 8, warning that the circumstances portrayed in the video “may have been staged by the military to evade accountability.”“Itong mga sigaw na ito, matagal na silang sumisigaw ng ganito. Tatawagin nilang redtagging, pero tingnan niyo naman ang nangyari. This incident is a tipping point na finally, mga magulang na ang nagsasabi na layuan niyo ang aming mga anak… kasi nasisira ang kanilang buhay,” Aquino said in response to the calls for Anicoche’s immediate release.<div> </div><div>HOPE AND GRIEF </div>Meanwhile, the mothers of the two students affected by the incident voiced hope and grief.Gina Madis, mother of missing Stephanie Borinaga, said that she is holding on to hope that—just like Anicoche—her daughter will still be found.Borinaga left their home in Muntinlupa on December 23.“Umaasa ako na maikwento nita [Chantal] ang lahat ng nangyari doon at kung safe ba ang anak ko. Umaasa po ako,” Madis said in a forum on Friday. “Nabubuhayan ako ng loob. Sana mahanap din siya.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/2/army-troops-in-clashes-with-npa-in-occidental-mindoro-were-responding-to-community-reports-1526">Army: Troops in clashes with NPA in Occidental Mindoro were acting on community reports </a></div>&quot;Lyn&quot; — the mother of Jerlyn Rose Doydora, who was killed during the encounter — appealed for the truth and condemned a party-list group she alleged recruited and exploited her daughter.Lyn, an overseas Filipino worker, immediately flew back to the Philippines following news of her daughter’s killing.“Napakasakit sa isang magulang, isang OFW, na ineexpect mo pag-uwi mo, mayayakap mo ang anak mo.”“Kabataan Party-list, please po, nakikiusap kami, tigilan niyo na ang paggamit niyo sa anak ko!” Lyn said.“Buhay na ng anak ko ang kinuha niyo. Ninakaw niyo, pati mga pangarap niya! Inakyat niyo sa bundok, tapos iniwan niyo? Tapos ngayon, kayo pa ang may ganang sumigaw ng hustisya?” she added.ABS-CBN News has sought comment from the Kabataan Party-list, but the group has yet to respond as of this writing.Several rights groups have called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and independent national and international monitors of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to conduct an independent investigation into the encounter in Occidental Mindoro.

An American activist who went missing after a clash between government troops and rebels in Occidental Mindoro has been found alive, but the Philippine Army has identified her as a person of interest in the incident.

An American activist who went missing after a clash between government troops and rebels in Occidental Mindoro has been found alive, but the Philippine Army has identified her as a person of interest in the incident.

Army: American activist is ‘person of interest’ in Mindoro clash with NPA

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Army: American activist is ‘person of interest’ in Mindoro clash with NPA

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 09, 2026 06:53 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Army

2nd Infantry Division

Occidental Mindoro

CPP-NPA

activist

encounter

person of interest

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