Justice for the environmental activists in Davao Oriental! - Gabriela Party-list

Gabriela Women's Party on Wednesday denounced the illegal arrest, detention and harassment of a member of the Church and three environmental activists by the 67th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Brgy. Taytayan, Cateel, Davao Oriental on February 16.

Rep. Luz Ilagan described the military acts as "unacceptable and unforgivable, as they were done with the sole purpose of intimidating those who are in defense of the national patrimony and who are against capitalist plunder".

Sr. Stella Matutina of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters and environmental advocates Maria Fe Matibo, Wenceslao Mapa, and Gil Sentinales were in Brgy. Taytayan on the invitation of local officials to talk on environmental awareness and protection, when around 20 military officials and elements accused them of being communist rebels and illegally arrested, detained, and harassed them.

Brgy. Taytayan is at risk of soon following the lead of Boston and three other towns in Davao Oriental which lands are currently being devastated by foreign large scale mining corporations Omega Gold Mining Corp. and BHP Billiton.

Ilagan demands justice for the four victims. In a resolution filed in the House of Representatives, she and other militant solons sought an immediate investigation on the human rights violations and the punishment of the erring 67th IB-PA officials and elements.

"GMA's hand in the violations should not be overlooked. The Investment Defense Force she created to “protect” foreign interests at the expense of the Filipino people is the primary instrument in the human rights violations against environmental activists who are against the destructive mining and other “sell-out” ventures entered into by the Philippines with trans- and multinational corporations,” Ilagan said. 

Arroyo's IDF has claimed the lives of many environmental activists, one of whom was Access Panalipdan Chairperson Fernando “Dodong” Sarmiento, killed in December last year. Sarmiento used to lead calls for the termination of PhilCo Mining Corp.'s operations in Compostela Valley.