The Philippine Misereor Partnership, Incorporated (PMPI) reiterated its call for “stronger protection to environmental defenders” as the country continues to rank first as the “deadliest nation in Asia” for environmentalists.
A report from Global Witness reveals that the Philippines ranks fourth in the world with 19 environmental defenders killed in 2021.
The figure, however, went down compared to the 30 killings listed in 2020. The report said at least 270 land defenders were killed in the Philippines between 2012 and 2021.
“This consistent, violent trend that spans almost a decade and two presidencies makes it clear that environmental and social justice was never a priority and a matter of serious concern for our state leaders,” read a PMPI statement released this week.
Global Witness found that 80 percent of the decade-long killings is linked to environmental protests against corporations, one-third of which is connected to mining.
“We amplify the calls of our communities and of every environmental defender for wanting better systems of living,” read the PMPI statement.
“We demand to be heard on our call that we can never achieve genuine economic development if it does not uphold environmental and human rights,” it added.
