EDITORIAL - Topping the wrong lists

The Philippines is topping international lists – in the wrong areas. Yesterday it was reported that the country had overtaken China to become the world’s largest rice importer. This is according to the latest Grain: World Markets and Trade report of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, nonprofit Global Witness released its latest annual report, which showed the Philippines at the top of the list in Asia and ranking fifth globally as the worst country for environmental defenders. The report dated Sept. 13 showed that 11 of the 16 killings monitored in Asia in 2022 were perpetrated in the Philippines. Indonesia followed with three killings and India with two.

Worldwide, the Philippines ranked behind Colombia where 60 killings were recorded, followed by Brazil with 34, Mexico with 31 and Honduras with 14. The worst five accounted for more than half of the 177 lethal attacks against land and environmental defenders in 2022.

The rankings coincidentally were released just over a week after two environmental activists were reported kidnapped in Orion, Bataan. As of yesterday, the whereabouts of Jonila Castro, 21, and Jhed Tamano, 22, remained unknown. The two are coordinators of AKAP KA Manila Bay, which is helping fishing communities and other sectors adversely affected by large-scale bay reclamation activities. Tamano is also the program coordinator of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum.

The two women were snatched in front of the Orion Water District by four men in a gray sport utility vehicle on the night of Sept. 2. While they are officially classified as missing, environment and human rights groups fear the worst.

Since 2012, Global Witness has monitored at least 281 killings of environment activists in the Philippines, with a third targeting anti-mining advocates. The military has said some of those included in the list were New People’s Army rebels killed in legitimate counterinsurgency operations. Activists have denied this and accused state forces of red-tagging.

The country has consistently topped the Global Witness ranking in Asia in the past 10 years. Aggravating the high number of killings is the failure to bring the perpetrators to justice. The same problem has consistently placed the country among the 10 worst in the annual survey on impunity in the killing of journalists. The only way to end the impunity is to bring to justice killers, kidnappers and anyone else involved in violent attacks. Finding those behind the disappearance of Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano would be a good start.