Families of desaparecidos call to surface missing women Chantal Anicoche and Scarlet Lyn Gayo
KARAPATAN Public Information
Press Release
January 7, 2026
Reference: JL Burgos, Desaparecidos Chairperson
Desaparecidos secretariat, 09189790580
Families of desaparecidos call to surface missing women Chantal Anicoche and Scarlet Lyn Gayo
Desaparecidos, an organization of families of victims of enforced disappearances, called on State security forces to surface two missing women Chantal Anicoche, a 25-year old volunteer researcher from the United States, and Scarlet Lyne Gayo, a staff member of National Democratic Front Cagayan Valley.
Anicoche went missing after being separated from her companions during the heavy military operations in the indigenous people communities of Barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on January 1, 2026.
"By all means, we call for the surfacing of Chantal Anicoche, and let her rights be guaranteed. We ask the public for any information that may lead to her whereabouts, and demand that she be surfaced if she is under military custody," said Desaparecidos chairperson JL Burgos.
Anicoche is a B.S. Psychology graduate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in the United States, and a respected leader in the Filipino American Student Association (FASA). She came to the Philippines to look into the situation in rural communities affected by environmental disasters, large-scale development projects and poverty, and went to the Mangyan-Iraya communities of Abra de Ilog.
“Let not Anicoche add up to the alarming number of victims of enforced disappearance. Moreso, we condemn any act of the Philippine state forces who will vilify the likes of Chantal who, despite living overseas, traces back to her roots as a Filipino and chooses to live among the indigenous people to know their plight and situation," said Burgos.
Desaparecidos also called for state security forces to disclose the whereabouts of Gayo.
In a statement, the NDF Cagayan Valley said that Gayo was" on medical leave and was scheduled to return to her unit when contact with her was lost." She was reportedly last seen in Cavite on December 9, 2025.
The statement also said that "Based on gathered information, Gayo was captured by AFP agents and is being pressured to betray her revolutionary comrades in exchange for the dismissal of fabricated charges against her."
"Gayo must be accorded her right to due process and face the alleged charges, albeit trumped-up. Her disappearance constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law," said Burgos.
The group also said that under the Anti-Enforced Disappearance Law, any delay or cover-up by state security forces is a threat to life, rights, and security and constitutes the crime of enforced disappearance.
"If the two missing persons are under military custody, the military or police must disclose their whereabouts and let her condition be known, or they should be held accountable for the crime of enforced disappearance. We say this from experience, that among the many desaparecidos, no member of the state forces was held accountable," explained Burgos.
To date, there are 15 victims of abduction and enforced disappearance under the Marcos Jr. administration, from July 2022.
Burgos also added that even those who were abducted surfaced afterwards and forcibly surrendered, none of the state security forces were held accountable.
"It is easy to vilify the victims and say, 'Why are they in the communities in the first place? However, should we be the ones to ask, why do abductions and enforced disappearances happen under a state that claims that rights are respected?" said Burgos.
Burgos is the brother of farmer-activist Jonas Burgos, who was abducted by state security forces in 2007.
Desaparecidos called on the Marcos Jr. government to urgently address the call to surface Anicoche and Gayo.
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