PH Army says Fil-Am was rescued; rights group claims it was staged

The Philippine Army (PA) said it rescued a Filipino-American activist who was reported missing during military operations against suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on New Year's Day.

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG

But a human rights group disputed the claim and alleged the recovery was staged to evade accountability.PA spokesperson Col. Louie G. Dema-ala said troops rescued Chantal Anicoche, 24, on Jan. 8, a week after the New Year's clash between operatives of the 2nd Infantry Division and alleged members of the remnants of the dismantled Komiteng Larangang Gerilya-Island Committee Mindoro (KLG-ICM) under the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee.

She was found by troops from the 76th Infantry Battalion during clearing operations while hiding in a hole near the encounter site in Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao, according to the military.

"The Philippine Army commends our troops for rescuing 24-year-old Chantal Anicoche," Dema-ala said in a statement.

He added that the rescue "exposes the blatant lies peddled by the communist terrorists and their mouthpieces regarding the legitimate operations carried out by our troops in Occidental Mindoro."