Calling a valid impeachment process a "distraction" speaks volumes about BBM's respect for actual democracy. It's like deja vu from Sara's impeachment last year. These separate impeachment attempts against the president and the vice president show a clear divide in Congress: the House of Reps behind Marcos while Sara maintains strong support in the Senate and the Supreme Court - all unwilling and incapable of actually upholding democracy.
Our hearts feel profound relief that Chantal Anicoche is alive and finally safe. This would not have happened without thousands who acted to pressure the Philippine military into revealing they secretly had Chantal alive in their custody and then releasing her after 3 weeks of constant public outrage.
We also feel angry and disturbed that those 3 weeks were likely defined by physical and psychological torment, like many who were either killed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) like Chad Booc or survived the AFP like Jonila Castro.
As Filipino educators and allies in the United States, we echo the calls to release Filipino American youth activist, Chantal Anicoche, from the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and safely return her to the United States. While a student leader at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Chantal learned about her identity, culture, and indigenous and environmental issues in the province of Mindoro, Philippines.
