Activist groups stage protest at PH Consulate, call for Chantal Anicoche’s freedom

NEW YORK CITY - Filipino-American community organizations staged a protest outside the Philippine Consulate in New York City, demanding the immediate and safe release of Chantal Anicoche, a 25-year-old Filipina-American who is now confirmed to be in the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 203rd Infantry Brigade.

Anicoche was reported missing during military attacks in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro operations that reportedly killed three Mangyan children, injured their mother, displaced 188 families, and left at least two student researchers dead.

Her resurfacing followed an international outcry and the “Surface Chantal” campaign launched by groups including BAYAN International and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines. Advocates now warn that her life remains in danger while under military custody.

“FREE CHANTAL NOW”

Anicoche, a recent psychology graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, returned to the Philippines to volunteer in rural and Indigenous communities devastated by back-to-back typhoons. Friends describe her as a committed youth leader and community organizer.

Before the rally, protesters hand-delivered a letter to the Consulate demanding government action. Activists later confronted Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, who acknowledged receiving the letter but said it would be forwarded to Manila drawing anger from protesters frustrated by what they called “bureaucratic stalling.”

“As long as our people are poor, landless, and forced to leave the country to survive, there will be more Chantals,” said Winnie Payabyab of BAYAN USA Northeast. “We demand Chantal’s immediate release, the pullout of troops from Mindoro, and an end to U.S.-backed militarization.”

NOT AN ISOLATED CASE

Boo Recitas of Malaya NY said Anicoche’s case mirrors a pattern of repression. “From activist blacklists to bombings in Mindoro, the Marcos Jr. administration is choosing militarization over Filipino lives,” he said. “We won’t stop organizing.”

Cris Hilo of Gabriela NY recalled the 2009 abduction of Filipino-American activist Melissa Roxas. “It was mass pressure that forced the government to surface her. As long as Chantal remains in military hands, she is not safe.”

“THIS IS A WAR CRIME”

Human rights advocates say the incident violates international law. Xue Hong of the New York Committee of Human Rights of the Philippines called the military operation a “war crime” backed by U.S. funding and arms sales.

“The Mangyan-Iraya people and Chantal are victims of state violence,” Hong said. “This must stop now.”