Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle (FFPS) strongly condemns the recent bombings by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against the people of Mindoro and calls for the immediate release of Chantal Anicoche.
On the 1st of January the military deployed 4 attack helicopters and dropped no less than 12 aerial bombs, as well as launching rockets and continuous aerial strafing for several hours against peasant and indigenous Mangyan communities in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro. The AFP claims this was part of an encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA) which, however, was observing a holiday ceasefire at the time.
Not only is the use of such violence disproportionate and excessive – which in itself constitutes a clear violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) – but it was also a completely indiscriminate use of firepower. This is highlighted by the civilian casualties in the attack. As a result of the bombings, integrating student researcher Jerlyn Rose Doydora died and three local Mangyan-Iraya children were massacred, while their mother was injured.
These attacks highlight the complete disregard of the US-Marcos regime for civilian lives, as proven by its relentless war of suppression under the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD).
This policy has doubled down on the failed “whole-of-nation” approach of previous president, and detained war criminal, Rodrigo Duterte, in maneuvering the entire state machinery under military control. It has exacerbated red-tagging, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, killings, bombings and other forms of counterinsurgency violence.
The targeted island of Mindoro was visited by international solidarity delegates from all over the world in October 2025. Their accounts relayed to us the many stories of exploitation, military repression and resistance by the local peasant and indigenous communities. The solidarity activists themselves were also targeted with surveillance and harassment during their integration by aerial drone surveillance, as well as military and police presence near their camp.
Currently the AFP and local government forces have been preventing human rights organizations and fact-finding missions to enter the affected communities and investigate the attack.
We amplify and join the calls and demands by Migrante International as well as international and Filipino (Human Rights) organizations for the immediate release of Chantal Anicoche. Her whereabout had remained uncertain for many days after the attack. Anicoche is a beloved Filipino community leader from the United States, who was reported missing at the time of the military attacks in Abra de Ilog. Recent media reports appear to show her in AFP custody after days of being disappeared.
In previous cases in recent years involving the abduction and disappearance of activists and civilians, it is well documented that victims are regularly subjected to severe physical and psychological torture by state forces. Their stories and these established patterns heighten our concern for the grave danger Chantal Anicoche now faces and underscore the urgency of the situation.
We therefore urgently call on the entire international community to join the call for the prompt and unconditional release of Chantal Anicoche. Her rights need to be respected in full and we echo the demand that she should not be put under any form of torture, interrogation, threat, harassment, and intimidation from any unit of the AFP. We stand with the struggling masses in Mindoro, and join the Filipino people in demanding an immediate stop to the attacks on the people of Mindoro.
#FreeChantalNOW
#ReleaseChantalAnicoche
#StopTheBombings
Stop the bombings!
Release Chantal Anicoche now!
End support to the US-Marcos regime!
Defend Mindoro!
source: FFPS