PHILIPPINES: Two anti-mining activists face threats after the murder of their colleague 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding to you an appeal regarding the threats on two anti-mining activists, Nenita Lacasa and Carolyn Borja of Eastern Samar, Visayas.

In their appeal, the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), a local human rights organization, reported that shots were fired at the houses of Lacasa and Borja on May 6 and May 23, 2012 respectively. One of those who fired at Lacasa’s house was Mr. Terso Lopido, Field Operation Trustee of the Terrestrial Mining Corporation.

Prior to these shootings, on March 17, 2012, Lopido was overheard by Borja and Francisco Canayong, to have said that: “in his (Canayong) loud voice says that if the mining operation will be stop we must leave our home and never show up because he will kill us all.” Canayong was murdered on May 1, 2012.

The full text of their testimony can be read here: Joint Affidavit of Francisco Canayong, Antonio Norte and Carolyn Borja.

For more details, contact the TFDP: National Center, 45 Saint Mary Street Cubao, Quezon City, the Philippines; (+63) 2 437 8054; 2 995 0246; (fax) 2 911 3643

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

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Urgent Action Urgent Action Urgent Action

Dear Friends,

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), writes to inform you about the harassment encountered by two (2) women, both are anti-mining advocates in barangay Carapdapan, Salcedo, Eastern Samar, Island of Visayas.

VICTIMs : 1. Nenita M. Lacasa, 62 years old, single

2. Carolyn R. Borja, 34 years old, married with 1 child

CASE DETAILS:

Two women, an anti-mining advocates experienced harassment on May 6, 2012 and May 23, 2012 respectively, at their house in Barangay Carapdapan, Salcedo, Eastern Samar. The harassment was allegedly perpetrated by Terso Lopido, the field operation trustee of the President of terrestrial Mining corporation and unidentified perpetrators wearing helmet.

According to Nenita Lacasa, on May 6 at about 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon, she was inside their house when a pick-up color green with plate #WRJ442 arrived and parked in front of their house.

Then, she saw Mr. Terso Lopido, the field operation trustee of Terrestrial mining corporation alighted from the vehicle. The later without provocation fired warning shot once, it was aimed at the high portion of their house. Thereafter, several minutes the vehicle left. Her mother heard the gun fire and maybe due to fear, eventually died at 3:00 in the afternoon.

On May 11,2012 at about 4:00 in the morning during the wake of her mother, Nenita saw a man behind the banana tree near their house just standing. She also noticed a man standing at the barangay outpost adjacent to their house just standing and wearing helmet. Then, she saw a motorcycle with color black and red parked within the vicinity.

Nenita recalled that one (1) week before Mr. Francisco Canayong was killed (their former colleague who was stabbed on May 1,2012), there were some persons outside their house as if conducting surveillance on her. They were on board a pick-up color green with the same plate number she mentioned above and then posed for about thirty (30) minutes in front of their house. This was happened in several occasions.

Meanwhile, Carolyn Borja narrated that on May 23,2012 at about 11:00 o’clock in the evening, they were inside their house when she heard two (2) gun shots. Accordingly, she saw two (2) motorcycles arrived (color blue and red) with persons riding in tandem and wearing helmet. They immediately fired two gun shots aiming to their house and fled. Due to fear they hurriedly left their home for safety.

Prior to the harassment they encountered, on March 17,2012 Carolyn along with barangay councilor Antonio M. Norte and Francisco Canayong (who was killed on May 1,2012), executed an affidavit regarding the verbal threat they overheard from the conversation of Terso Lopido a.k.a “Baggie” a trustee of the President of Terrestrial Mining Corporation along with his companions.

They stated in their affidavit that they heard the latter talking about mining and even mentioning their names and their associations. Lopido uttered that, “if the mining operation will be stop they must leave their home and never show up because he will kill them”. He further stated that if they will interfere with their incoming chromite ore shipment he will enter each of their houses and will kill them.

Last March 14 & 15,2011, Carolyn Borja together with Nenita Lacasa, joined the barricade along with her group and community members at the bridge in barangay Carapdapan to stop the illegal transporting of chromite ore by Terrestrial Mining corporation going to china.

Due to their action the mining company filed a civil case for Damages against her along with Canayong and 3 other officers of their group at the Regional trial Court (RTC) branch 139 in Makati City.

Carolyn is the President of Carapdapan Movement for Development Association, Inc (CAMADA), of which Nenita is also an officer. Both of them often times go along with each other in every activities and they were visibly identified as against the illegal mining operation in their barangay and other neighboring barangays in their town.

In September 2011, Carolyn R. Borja, Estanislao B. Catimon, Arturo M. Lacasa, Engr. Gil C. Lamasco and other leaders and members of their group filed complaints with the office of the Ombudsman for failure of the Local Government to intervene and stopped the illegal mining activities in their area.

As of this writing, the two victims are in sanctuary in an undisclosed place.

Requested Action:

Please write to the authorities in the Philippines urging them to:
1. Call upon competent authorities to carry out a prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the harassment perpetrated against the victims.

2. To provide immediate protection of the victims and their families as mandated on the Declaration of Human Rights defenders.

3. To create task force for the immediate resolution of the case and brought perpetrators to justice.

Thank you.

 

 

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER