Manila, Philippines – Reuben Muni, Climate and Energy Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said:“Greenpeace condemns in the strongest terms the murder of Gloria Capitan, a staunch anti-coal advocate who bravely stood up against plans for coal stockpiles and a coal-fired power plant in Mariveles, Bataan, at the height of overwhelming local government support for coal energy and a national policy favoring the same.
“Ate Glo, as she was fondly called, was a member of the Coal-Free Bataan Movement, which Greenpeace Philippines works with. She was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding assassins on the night of July 1, 2016. She was 57 years old.
“Her untimely passing is not only a significant loss to the coal-free movement in the Philippines, but the manner of her death is a huge blow to our struggle for human rights and against criminality. Greenpeace, together with other organizations working on the anti-coal campaign in Bataan, condemns this attempt to silence the growing opposition to coal-fired power generation not only in Bataan but also in other parts of the country.
“Greenpeace demands justice for Gloria Capitan and other fallen environmental defenders This is a challenge to President Rodrigo Duterte’s drive against criminality, which shouldn’t be limited to stopping drug-related crimes but should also go after criminals who target activists standing up to powerful interests. Those who defend the environment need to be protected.”
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For more information:
Reuben Muni, Climate and Energy Campaigner
Email: [email protected] | Mobile: (+63) 917 806 9084
Angelica Carballo-Pago, Media Campaigner
Email: [email protected] | Mobile: (+63) 949 889 1332