The Philippines is now the second deadliest country globally for environmental defenders, next only to Brazil, according to 2017 data gathered by London-based nongovernment organization Global Witness.
The Philippines accounted for 41 of the 197 killings recorded in 2017 worlwide, also making it the deadliest country in Asia for the fifth successive year.
Brazil accounted for 46 of the killings in 2017. In 2016, the Philippines placed third to Brazil and Colombia with 28 killings.
Activist environmental group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (PNE) attributed the rise in killings to crackdowns by the Duterte administration.
In a news briefing on Tuesday, however, Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones disputed the basis for Kalikasan PNE’s findings.
He also said they would arm forest guards so they could protect themselves in illegal logging “hot spots.” —Jaymee T. Gamil