MANILA – Karapatan Southern Tagalog reported a missing youth activist missing after a series of aerial bombing and strafing on January 1 in Occidental Mindoro.
Chantal Aninoche immersed with the peasants and Mangyan indigenous peoples in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro. A Filipino community leader from the United States, she just graduated with a Psychology degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore Country (UMBC).
Karapatan Southern Tagalog said that she was separated from the community after the military offensives of several battalions under the 203rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army. Karapatan Southern Tagalog is conducting a humanitarian and fact-finding mission to look for her and investigate the extent of human rights violations.
“The AFP must answer for Chantal’s disappearance. Her safety is their responsibility, and every day she remains missing is a day of grave injustice,” said Saara Rapisora, spokesperson of the humanitarian mission.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-USA chapter said that she is a beloved member and leader of the Filipino student club, the Filipino-American Student Association (FASA). “Learning about their experiences helped Chantal understand the economic hardships her parents would talk about as reasons for leaving the Philippines in the first place.”
Aninoche campaigned for indigenous peoples and farmers in the Philippines through her policy advocacy with the Philippine Human Rights Act campaign. She was inspired to pursue her passion and volunteer in the Philippines and help conduct relief work with the rural communities affected by disasters and poverty.
Her disappearance follows the death of Jerlyn Rose Doydora, a youth activist from Kabataan Party-list who was also in the province on January 1.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) had an armed encounter that began at 6:30 a.m. At least four attack helicopters were used to conduct strafing operations from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and at least 12 bombs were dropped in the area.
Read: Philippine military kicks off year with terror campaign in Mindoro, kills 4, injures 1
The AFP and NPA did not report casualties. However, at least three Mangyan-Iraya children were reportedly killed during the bombing while their mother was injured.
Child rights alliance Salinlahi condemned the killing of three indigenous children, stressing that AFP’s military operations go against the principle of proportionality of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) or rules of war.
“The actions taken were excessive. International Humanitarian Law clearly defines the limits of military operations by armed forces, which are in place to protect civilians, particularly children,” Salinlahi youth spokesperson Trixie Manalo said.
Human rights group Desaparecidos said that Aninoche is a case of enforced disappearance. This is the first case this year and at least 15 people have not yet surfaced under the Marcos Jr. administration.
Karapatan Southern Tagalog called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate what happened and to protect the affected communities in Mindoro. It also urged the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human RIghts (UN OHCHR) to monitor the situation, particularly the violations of international laws.
“Do not let the AFP hide behind propaganda while communities suffer. The world must see what happened in Cabacao,” Rapisora said. (DAA)
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