A migrant organization called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to drop its “rescuer” act and immediately release American activist Chantal Aninoche from detention.
A day after the AFP admitted having Aninoche in custody last Thursday, Migrante International and rights lawyers trooped to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal to provide assistance, but were denied access.
Migrante said the AFP should stop its charade of being Aninoche’s saviors and should respect her right to consult lawyers about her detention.
“She must not be put under any form of torture, interrogation, threat, harassment, and intimidation from the hands of any unit of the AFP,” the group added.
READ: Produce Chantal Anicoche, US groups urge AFP
In a video released by the 20rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, Aninoche was shown “rescued” by government troopers conducting continuing military operations in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro.
The activist went missing in the wake of the aerial bombings in Barangay Cabacao last January 1.
AFP’s video did not specify when Aninoche was supposedly “rescued” and how long since she had been under custody by the Philippine Army.
The Philippine Army subsequently told reporters it considers Aninoche a “person of interest” in their clash with the New People’s Army (NPA) on New Year’s day.
A student leader as well as three Mangyan-Iraya children reportedly died as a result of the bombings in the area during the military operations.
READ: Student researcher dies during aerial bombing in Mindoro
Migrante said they are relieved that Aninoche is alive and demanded her immediate release.
The group also called on Filipinos overseas and at home to call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to release Aninoche without delay.
Meanwhile, various progressive groups held a rally at the Boy Scout Circle in Quezon on Friday to demand Aninoche’s freedom and to condemn the bombings in Mindoro Island.
Human rights alliance KARAPATAN said there is no lawful basis for the AFP to hold the 24-year old American in detention, adding the circumstances portrayed in the videos may have been staged by the military to evade accountability.
“With four battalions of soldiers deployed in the area, it is baffling that she was not located then, only to be allegedly ‘found’ a week later in a nearby site,” Cristina Palabay, Secretary General of KARAPATAN said.
The group further flagged the military’s conduct during her alleged recovery, noting reports that soldiers insinuated the presence of firearms or explosives in the area and interrogated Anicoche about why she was in Mindoro, telling her to “tell the truth” and “cooperate.”
Palabay said this indicated “a presumption of guilt and an atmosphere of intimidation.” # (Raymund B. Villanueva)