DANGEROUS PLACE | The Philippines remains among the most dangerous countries for environmental defenders, according to Global Witness. Calls to arm forest rangers have been met with concern by environmental groups. (Photo from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Real, Quezon)
MANILA, Philippines — At least 10 land and environmental defenders were killed this year, based on the preliminary report of the nongovernmental organization Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (PNE).
“This is not yet the final number as we still need to look at the cases of peasant killings … so the tally might increase,” Jon Bonifacio, national coordinator of Kalikasan PNE, said in a press briefing on Monday.
Based on their data, at least nine incidents of attacks affected 30,000 people but Bonifacio noted that “there was no assessment on the environmental impact and damage in the ecosystem.”
Kalikasan PNE sought an immediate and independent investigation of the continued attacks against land and environment defenders.