Cayetano called on the government to investigate killings of
environmentalists and DENR employees
Press Release
June 19, 2012
PASAY CITY – Senate minority leader Alan Peter S. Cayetano called on
the government to act on the reported killings of employees of
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and
environmentalists.
He said that the fact that the killings are not sensational media
items, it is no reason for the national government to take the deaths
lightly.
“It is disappointing to note that nothing has been heard of results of
investigations on the deaths. Are these deaths all in vain? ,” he
asked.
He noted that to date, 14 DENR employees and environmentalists have
been killed under the Aquino administration, DENR Butuan employee
Ricardo Magallanes being the most recent on June 1.
“This series of events has a chilling effect on various environmental
groups,” he said.
“Instead of speaking out against illegal loggers and other violators
of the country’s environmental laws, they will cease to do so for fear
of their lives,” he added.
He cited the case of the illegal logging operations discovered inside
the 13,800-hectare forest traversing Zambales and the Pangasinan town
of Mangaterem.
The senator said the Aquino administration’s call for environmental
protection should be matched by measures that will protect those who
respond to the call.
“Violators have no qualms resorting to violence to keep their
operations profitable. Government must send a strong message to those
who intimidate and silence environmentalists with impunity that these
acts will not go unpunished,” he said.
The minority leader suggested the creation of a joint DENR and
Department of Justice (DOJ) task-force to investigate the deaths and
recommend measures to counter the deadly tactics of the syndicates and
unscrupulous businessmen.
Cayetano
stressed that with local agencies manning the front lines, it is
incumbent upon the national government to provide all the support in
the campaign particularly against illegal loggers and miners.