A Catholic journalist and human rights activist, Gerry Ortega was shot to death Jan. 24 in Puerto Princesa on the island of Palawan. Gerry Ortega, is the 142nd journalist to be murdered in the Philippines in the last 25 years.
Recently the Filipino bishops launched an alarm for the growth of crime and violence, particularly against journalists, religious activists, trade unionists and lawyers who defend the rights of the poor and marginalized.
47 year-old Gerry Ortega was engaged in a campaign to defend the indigenous communities of Palawan.
Often he invited missionaries, members of Christian communities and non-governmental organizations and environmental groups onto his radio programme who had launched a petition to save one of the most beautiful islands of the Philippines.
Palawan is in danger of being devastated by a major mining project authorized by the central and provincial governments.
Palawan is populated by indigenous tribes such as the Tagbanua, Palawanon, Tau't Bato, Batak and Molbog, who live in small villages or the mountainous area along the coast and make their living from fishing and agriculture.
Two multinational companies, Celestial and MacroAsia have already begun to build roads and open pits.
MacroAsia has an agreement with the government in Manila grating mining rights on lands that have always been owned by indigenous communities, some of which have rarely had contact with the outside world, and whose survival may be endangered by the plans for extraction.
The campaign for the defence of Palawan has resulted in a request to the Manila government to repeal the 1995 "Mining Act" which paved the way across the country to the exploitation of lands belonging to indigenous tribes.
Gerry Ortega, also involved in the life of the Church, was well known for his battles via radio in defence of human rights in the Philippines.
SIC: AN/INT'L
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