This is the story of the Women persecuted for Environmental Defense. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Story of the Kapitana who exercised her mandate and was set up as an easy target for a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Paprticipation (SLAPPsuit) to discredit the looming Environmental Cases against some of whom are elected government officials. This is also the story of Celda, a woman environmental defender maligned for being a woman defender of courage and clear, unbending opinions about those who govern and how they do so.

 

 

 

 

 

These are the WOMEN at the frontlines of Environmental Defense in Catmon, Cebu. 

Defending what? The devastation to the great Catmon Naghalin River by the Ambakan Cold Mountain Springs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Catmon, Cebu Philippines where Coconut  and other Native Trees have been recklessly cut WITHOUT permits in a rush to construct what they say is a 'barangay road project'.

Done in such a rush that no tree cutting permits were applied for. Not a single one.

The rush suspiciously timed just as the people resisted the Politicians' 'preferred developer' who proposed a disadvantageous Joint Venture Agreement for the Municipality of Catmon to extract water from its cold mountain springs for profit. Same developer who erected structures WITHOUT Municipal Council Authority. Spillway and reservoir structures have since stopped and rerouted this Naghalin River tributary.

Despite Municipal Engineer issuing a work STOPPAGE order, construction continued and what was once a free flowing river is now impeded by not only concrete structures that have no business being there, but all of a sudden a dirt road where the river once was, has now appeared as a privilege path for construction materials to this developer's construction site. This site now claimed to be for 'resort construction' after disadvantageous Bulk Water JVA was rejected by the people and the Municipal Council. Same unfavorable JVA which the Mayor requested Municipal Council to grant authority to engage. 

National Agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources EMB have issued a Notice of Violation regarding the illegal structures, as well as the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) filing suit for the unlicensed cutting of Coconut Trees. The PCA strictly monitors sustainability for this 133 billion peso Philippine Industry as of 2022, accdg to Statista.

The Women Environmental Defenders like KAPITANA and CELDA run risk to life and limb apprehending chainsaw operators, whistleblowing Environmental Destruction and on the daily, fight assaults to their characters as women simply because they speak TRUTH to power and STAND for Environmental Protection. 

Lousy political machinations geared for a set up went underway upon the trigger of investigations from the whistleblowing of these brave Envi Defenders.

The viral incident: an event was organized without the Kapitana's knowledge. The Kapitana, being the ELECTED gatekeeper of the Barangay, was therefore not able to field safety officers nor exercise safety protocols for what would be a gathering of athletes not only of her Barangay but of other towns as well. The responsibility of Peace and Order, Safety and Security among other things all fall on the Punong Barangay's shoulders. 

Case in point, by happenstance, a motorcycle accident without any Barangay attendant raised the alarm which led to the Kapitana finding out about the sports cum political event.

No permits nor requests applied for meant a risk to safety of ALL present and posed far too great adverse consequences. So, an explanation for a call for respect and procedural obligations was made by the Kapitana ahead of exercising her jurisdiction in the cancellation of a highly politicized event. Politicized? Yes. Organized by allies of a defeated political opponent.  Further underlined as political when a political endorsement was made as the opportunity of an audience in a gathered community presented itself. 

Malicious personalities then capitalized and sensationalized the cancellation of an event with glaring SAFETY VIOLATIONS. Used disgruntlement from the cancellation to besmirch the Women Environmental Witnesses as basis for Administrative Suspension masked by an 'ethics charge'- FOR SIMPLY CANCELLING AN EVENT with procedural violations.

Can this administrative charge perhaps be a tool to  DISCREDIT a witness to Environmental Crimes? As of this writing, a questionable 'Committee Report' signed by the Mayor's Council majority has already judged our Envi Defender as unethical and guilty with a push for Suspension WITHOUT due process. This is a CLEAR HUMAN RIGHTS violation and a showcase of an abuse of discretion because the LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE indicates the RIGHT of the Respondent to be accorded full opportunity to defend herself . 

Legal remedies will be exercised in defense of our DEFENDERS and abusers of authority will be held to account!

So the PUBLIC MAY KNOW: This is why the LAW offers protection to ALL Environmental Defenders- for precisely ANY attempt to harass, silence, intimidate or threaten those who courageously seek the full implementation of Environmental Justice.

The Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) is a key component of Philippine laws that ensures Human Rights of Envi Witnesses and Envi Law Enforcers are protected and upheld in order for Environmental Cases they petition to move forward in the Courts of Law. 

The Philippines is one of the deadliest places for Environmental Advocates and we are at the cusp of changing that narrative. At this point, while we continue to engage Government in dialogue and lobby for Environmental Protection, a fight continues to be required at the frontlines.

There are brave frontliners among us. Women Defenders.

These defenders face atrocities to their womanhood, their characters and even their families become targets of lies and violence peddled on the ground against them. 

The year is now 2024. The witch trials have been laid to rest centuries ago but we continue to burn women at the stake only with a different fire this time. These are women persecuted and prosecuted simply because they have opinions, speak their mind, are with courage to hold authority to account and are women who bravely DEFEND the Environment. 

Long gone should be the days when people are made to believe 'Might is right' especially when it comes to the Environment and its Defenders. Developmental Aggression is on the outs. Nature and its advocates are pushing back stronger. 

The narrative must change.

Defenders must be held to a higher regard for they do what many cannot- they are the defense line of the trees who cannot speak, they are the defense line of the mountain peaks mined flat, they are the defense line of the seas targeted for the irreversible damage of dump and fill. They are the defense line of the air blackened with noxious gasses. 

The Defenders are guardians of an ailing world. They are in place to give Nature time to heal and recover. Let us protect our DEFENDERS! 

Hear now the PEOPLE's VOICE: STOP THE ASSAULT TO OUR DEFENDERS!

STOP THE ASSAULT:  Restore our RIVER & PROTECT our WATER SOURCES!

 

 

 

 

 

Protect Catmon.