Environmentalists want Cagayan killings probed

An environmental group called on government to speed up investigations into the killings and violence against anti-mining advocates in Cagayan province. Environmental network Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) also called for a stricter implementation of peace and order to protect anti-mining leaders from violence, as justice has yet to be given to victims in the last few months. “We have already recorded five deaths of anti-mining activists within the span of six months since November last year," said ATM national coordinator Jaybee Garganera in an article posted Saturday evening on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. [See: Groups ask govt for quick probe of anti-mining advocates’ killings] “Right now we fear for the lives of other anti-mining local officials and activists, who remain strong on their position against mining operations in the province especially in Buguey," he added. The town of Buguey is one of the consistent election hotspots in the country since 2001. Garganera said the most recent victim of violence in Buguey was San Lorenzo barangay liason officer Adamson Arellano, who was shot in the leg and foot by unidentified men on May 17. “Arellano is lucky to have escaped death. But it is not the same for the five anti-mining activists who have already died from the brutal killings while their respective families have yet to claim justice," Garganera said. He said Fula barangay captain William Arzadon died on May 15, when unidentified men shot him while he was on his motorcycle in Buguey. Conrado Buenaflor, another anti-mining advocate, was shot in front of his own house in Barangay Leron on May 9. He died four days later, ATM said. Gensun Agustin, one of the leaders of the anti-mining civil society group Alliance of Buguey Community Development Advocates and a member of the Federation of Anti-Mining Advocates in Cagayan, was gunned down on March 1 while on his way home after delivering a lecture on the impact of mining in Buguey. Anti-mining advocates Pedrito Tabaco and his brother-in-law Alfredo Rabit were also shot down by unidentified men while riding together in a motorcycle on their way home in Barangay Leron Buguey on Nov. 30. The ATM said mining in Cagayan is a hot political issue, with the recent election there being a battleground between pro- and anti-mining candidates. “Arellano, Arzadon, Buenaflor, Agustin, Tabaco and Rabit were all known strong supporters of anti-mining Buguey Mayor Ignacio Taruc who recently ran against the son of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and another contender for the House Representative seat in Cagayan first district," Garganera said. The group also noted that in the last election, Taruc got 40.42 percent of the total votes for the congressional seat against 56.23 percent of Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. —Carmela G. Lapeña/VS, GMANews.TV