Duterte urged to solve Gerry Ortega slay, 108 environment-related death cases

Environmental and activist groups call for justice and pay tribute to slain broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega at the UP Sunken Garden on the sixth anniversary of his death. JODEE A. AGONCILLO

Several environmental and activist groups on Tuesday night urged the Duterte administration to solve the cases of 108 environment-related killings, including the murder of broadcast-journalist and environmentalist Gerry Ortega as they commemorated the latter’s 6^th death anniversary at the UP Sunken Garden.

“As we remember the environmental heroism of Dr. Ortega, we call on the Duterte administration to hasten the jailing of the masterminds behind his murder. Not one of the 108 environmental killings has been sufficiently resolved six years after Ortega’s murder,” said Clemente Bautista, Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment national coordinator.

Ortega, or Ka Gerry, a commentator of the Radyo Mo Nationwide’s (RMN)’s and a known environmentalist and wildlife veterinarian, was shot dead by a lone gunman in Puerto Princesa, Palawan in 2011 for his expose on the corrupt practices of Palawan government officials, particularly the misuse of the Malampaya funds of its former governor Joel Reyes.

The groups–which include the Center for Environmental Concerns, Kalikasan PNE, Hustisya, Karapatan and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines–lighted candles for Ortega and paid him a short tribute.

“Gerry Ortega is a good example, he chose to live a meaningful life and death…how he braved death threats in exposing corrupt practices. It’s important to note that the real meaning of environmentalism is not just getting high every time we climb a mountain, or explore, and see endangered species. Fighting for the environment is also fighting for the rights of our people and making sure that the environment is being utilized for the people. Environmentalism is also political,” said Frances Quimpo of the CEC.

For Ortega’s bravery, he was also awarded the Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan for his work as a senior veterinarian in the RP-Japan Crocodile Farming Institute in Irawan, Palawan where he promoted the rescue and rehabilitation of crocodiles and endemic species. He is also a commentator and an anti-illegal mining advocate.

As of date, the main suspects–Reyes and his brother former Coron town mayor Mario Reyes–who went into hiding for three years were arrested September 21 last year by Thailand’s Bureau of Immigration for overstaying. Mario is currently out on bail while his brother Joel is still detained.

According to the latest tally of the Task Force-Justice for Environment Defenders, a group supporting environmental martyrs, 10 of the 108 environment-related deaths happened under Duterte’s watch.

“The administration has done nothing to address the ‘impunity’ despite the Environment Secretary Gina Lopez’s vow to help in probing environment-related deaths,” Bautista said.

“The Duterte administration is doing nothing. It doesn’t care. There are no sufficient investigations, no taskforce group created for the probe of suspected corporations, private security guards and even the military. It’s the same with the killings of environmental, political activists, the current administration has no qualms about the killings of suspected [drug] users and pushers. Walang pagkilala sa kahalagahan ng buhay (There is acknowledgment of the value of the human life),” Bautista said.

Among the anti-environment provisions that Duterte should amend or take a look into are the Mining Act of 1995, the Executive Order 79 during the Aquino administration, Bautista said.

“Secretary Lopez had been with us in our calls to scrap these laws but until now, there are no administrative orders or policy changes,” Bautista said.

Ronalyn Olea of the NUJP, also sought for justice and condemn the killings, saying that physical threats, including the ultimate censorship–murder–continue to confront journalists under the present administration.

Under Duterte’s watch, journalist and Catanduanes publisher Larry Que was killed, while three others survived assassination attempts, Olea said.

Among the shot and injured media personalities were Virgilio Maganes of Northern Watch last Nov. 8 in Dagupan, Pangasinan;  Apolinario Suan Jr. of Real FM in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur last July 14; and Saturnino “Jan” Estanio and his grade six student son in Surigao City last June 30.

Aside from the culture of impunity, Olea also noted the Duterte administrations’ attempt to undermine and discredit the media.

“While this is nothing new–past presidents have also taken media to task for critical reporting – the current administration has taken this to new lows, insisting that ‘creative imagination’ should take precedence over accurate reporting,” she added. CDG