Human rights alliance KARAPATAN called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and independent national and international monitors of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to immediately investigate the aerial strafing and bombings carried out by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on 1 January 2026, which left several civilians dead and one person missing.
KARAPATAN stressed that an independent investigation is urgently needed to determine accountability for what it described as grave violations of IHL and civilians’ rights, amid reports of indiscriminate attacks in peasant and indigenous communities.
According to reports received by KARAPATAN Southern Tagalog, three Mangyan-Iraya children were killed, along with youth researcher and student Jerlyn Rose Doydora, during the military assault. Chantal Anicoche, a 25-year-old Filipina community leader from the United States, who was also in Abra de Ilog at the time of the attack, remains missing after reportedly being separated from her companions. Reports also cited that soldiers from at least four battalions (average battalion size is estimated at 500 soldiers per battalion) from the Armed Forces of the Philippines were deployed, while four helicopters hovered in the community, dropped twelve bombs and conducted indiscriminate firing.
“We condemn the indiscriminate military attacks that resulted in civilian deaths and the disappearance of Chantal Anicoche. If this is not overkill for the AFP, then we do not know what is,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of KARAPATAN. “The AFP is denying these crimes by brazenly spreading lies against the victims and sowing fear in the community.”
“They dropped bombs from the skies and fired indiscriminately from helicopters. The military is solely responsible for these deaths, and it is reprehensible for them to shift the blame onto the victims,” Palabay added.
Reports indicate that soldiers from at least four battalions (average battalion size is estimated at 500 soldiers per battalion) from the Armed Forces of the Philippines were deployed, while four helicopters hovered in the community, dropped at least twelve bombs and conducted indiscriminate and continuous strafing.
The AFP deployed four attack helicopters, dropped at least 12 aerial bombs, and conducted continuous strafing in Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao on New Year’s Day. In its own statement, the AFP said the operations involved elements of the 76th Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Battalion, 59th Infantry Battalion and the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion, under the operational control of the 203rd Infantry Brigade.
KARAPATAN Southern Tagalog has documented at least 16,733 victims of various human rights violations in Mindoro in 2025 alone. Data from the Provincial Social Welfare Office show that at least 769 individuals, or 188 Mangyan-Iraya families, were also forcibly evacuated during military operations.
KARAPATAN raised urgent concern over the whereabouts of Chantal Anicoche, a volunteer-researcher from the United States. According to BAYAN USA, Anicoche is a recent B.S. Psychology graduate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a respected leader in the Filipino American Student Association (FASA). “After seeing the back-to-back typhoons in the Philippines this year, Chantal was inspired to volunteer in the Philippines to learn from and assist rural communities directly affected by environmental disasters and poverty,” BAYAN USA said in a statement.
“We urge the military, police, and the local government of Occidental Mindoro to immediately disclose information on Chantal Anicoche’s whereabouts,” Palabay said. “Any attempt to conceal her situation threatens her life and security and constitutes further violations of her rights.”
KARAPATAN also denounced the obstruction of humanitarian and fact-finding missions, including denial of access to evacuation centers and the use of the Dayo Ordinance to restrict entry, which it described as deliberate efforts to conceal violations.
“The local government must not act as an accessory to the AFP’s grave violations of International Humanitarian Law, which clearly mandates the protection of civilians during armed conflict,” Palabay said. “Preventing fact-finding and humanitarian work further violates people’s right to speak, to truth and assistance.”
KARAPATAN urged the CHR to conduct a swift, independent, and thorough investigation, ensure continuous monitoring of the situation in Occidental Mindoro, hold the Philippine government accountable, guarantee protection for affected communities, and secure the immediate and safe return of Chantal Anicoche.
“We call on the public, media, Church, and human rights advocates to demand accountability from the AFP, seek justice for the victims, lift military blockades to allow humanitarian aid, and ultimately stop the military operations and pull out troops from communities in Mindoro,” Palabay said.
