Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) – Gerry Ortega, journalist and human rights activist was killed by gunfire Monday, 24 January, in the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island in the centre of the Philippines archipelago. This is the 142nd journalist who has lost his life in the last 25 years, and is the latest victim of the wake of extra-judicial executions, which have upset the country for decades. Just days ago, the Filipino bishops issued a warning about the increase in crime and violence, which mainly affects journalists, men and women religious, activists, trade unionists, lawyers and those who defend the rights of the poorest and most marginalized of people (see Fides 20/1/2011).
Ortega, in fact, was involved in the Committee for the salvation of Palawan Island and for the protection of its indigenous communities. Often in his radio transmissions he gave space on the Forum to missionaries, Christian communities, NGOs and environmental groups which have launched a petition to prevent the destruction of one of the most beautiful islands of the Philippines: Palawan is at risk of being devastated due to mining large projects authorized by the central and provincial Philippine Governments.
Palawan is populated by local indigenous tribes such as the Tagbanua, Palawanon, Tau't Bato, Molbog and Batak, who live in small villages in the mountainous areas or along the coasts, thanks to fishing and subsistence farming. “Right now the island is at grave risk: construction work on roads for opening quarries and mining sites has begun in fact, assigned to multinationals MacroAsia and Celestial,” informs the “Save Palawan” Committee.
According to the agreement reached with the Government of Manila, “Macro Asia” has the right of extraction on land that has always belonged – according to the concept of the ancestral domain – to the indigenous communities, some of whom rarely have contact with the outside world. The mining projects therefore seriously put their survival at risk.
The Forum has expressed outrage and dismay at the execution of Ortega and reiterated to the Government their request to revoke the “Mining Act” of 1995, which “was a real disaster for the indigenous people of the Philippines.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/1/2011)
