STATEMENT
Kalikasan – People’s Network for the Environment
December 11, 2024
MANILA – The Kalikasan – People’s Network for the Environment strongly condemns the baseless ethics case filed by the NTF-ELCAC against Rep. France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Teachers Party-list. This case is a clear extension of the relentless harassment and vilification of progressive leaders who bravely fight for the rights of the poor, workers, teachers, and indigenous peoples.
This filing is not just an attempt to silence Rep. France Castro; it is a desperate maneuver to undo her efforts against corruption and militarization in the country. Instead of addressing real issues of violence and abuse in Lumad communities, the NTF-ELCAC exploits its power to suppress defenders of human rights and the environment.
Rep. France Castro is widely recognized as a staunch human rights advocate and a champion of education for all. Her participation in the National Solidarity Mission in Talaingod exemplifies her commitment to serving the most marginalized, especially the Lumad who suffer from militarization, food blockades, and aerial bombings.
“Hindi po kami pinilit na sumama sa kanila. Sumama kami dahil sila ang pangalawang magulang namin. Sila ang nag-aalaga sa amin noong mga panahon na wala ang magulang namin.”
Angelika Moral
This case is glaring evidence of the decay in the ruling class and the current regime, which continues its oppression and repression of defenders of the environment and indigenous peoples’ rights. Their aim is to silence brave leaders like Rep. Castro, who tirelessly fight for the rights of the impoverished, workers, educators, and indigenous peoples. Amid ongoing attacks on indigenous land and environmental defenders protecting their territories from large-scale mining and destruction, the government has shown its allegiance to exploitative corporations and foreign interests.
The militarization of indigenous lands and the forced displacement of communities from their ancestral domains highlight the current administration’s blatant disregard for indigenous rights. Since 1995, ancestral lands equivalent in size to the nation of Timor Leste have been seized from indigenous peoples for mining projects.
Killings, intimidation, and harassment of environmental defenders and indigenous rights advocates persist under this regime. In just the first two years of Marcos Jr.’s presidency, at least 37 environmental defenders were killed and 32 forcibly disappeared. Additionally, countless others, like Rep. Castro, have faced fabricated charges, slander, and physical attacks. These acts underscore the regime’s collusion with destructive mining corporations and exploitative projects that plunder and devastate our environment.
Their aim is to silence brave leaders like Rep. Castro, who tirelessly fight for the rights of the impoverished, workers, educators, and indigenous peoples.
We call on the Filipino people to defend Rep. France Castro and all activists fighting for justice and democracy. Hold those behind this repression and violence accountable! Abolish NTF-ELCAC! Fight for the rights of every Filipino!
#DefendAncestralLands
#DefendTalaingod13
