Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Malaybalay (Agenzia Fides) - Murder emergency on the island of Mindanao: Margarito Cabal, an environmentalist leader was killed in the province of Bukidnon, in Mindanao (southern Philippines). This is the third murder within two months after the murder of the tribal leader Jimmy Liguyon (see Fides 09/05/2012) and the Catholic journalist Nestor Libaton (see Fides 10/05/2012). Cabal was shot dead by two unidentified men on the evening of May 9, but the news is only coming to the limelight now, notes to Fides the local NGO "Karapatan", recalling that within two years - since the government of Benigno Aquino Jr is in office - 76 among leaders and human rights activists have been killed in the Philippines. Thirteen were particularly committed to environmental protection, and 9 out of 13 were killed in Mindanao. Margarito Cabal was among the leaders of the "Task Force Save Pulangi" committed to the defense of the Pulangi River, in central Mindanao, for which the project of a second dam for a mega hydroelectric plant (in addition to an existing first River) that would damage the environment and the lives of indigenous peoples living in the area is already ready. Even Fr. Fausto Tentorio, the missionary killed in October 2011 had tried to stop the project.
The growing violence is of great concern to the local Church. His Exc. Mgr. Joe Cabantan, Bishop of Malaybalay, the capital of the province of Bukidnon, and President of the Episcopal Commission for Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Mindanao, launched through Fides a strong appeal to stop the violence: "We condemn and denounce this trail of murders that has bloodied our land, and that continues to violate human dignity. The victims are environmental leaders, human rights activists, missionaries, journalists, people who defend the rights of our people. Our appeal is to put a stop to this senseless violence. Many of the recent and past murders are unsolved and there is a general climate of impunity. We ask the government for more effort to the investigation, for justice, to restore order and peace in Mindanao. We recall the murder of Fr. Tentorio, but also that of Fr. Nerylito Satur, killed in 1991, a crime without perpetrators."
According to Bishop, "the first responsibility belongs to the local authorities: we ask them for clarity, justice, commitment to find solutions. As a local Church, we continue to pray and preach peace and justice. Starting from small local communities, we put all our efforts and our resources to help build a just and fraternal society in Mindanao. " (PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2012)
