Ifugao solon condemns killing of Fr. Pops
< 1 MIN READ
By ROBIELIZA HALIP
www.nordis.net
QUEZON CITY — Ifugao Representative Teddy Brawner Baguilat has renewed his call on President Aquino to declare a moratorium on mining projects following the brutal murder of Italian missionary Fr. Fausto Tentorio, who was a staunch supporter of indigenous peoples and adversary to mining projects.
Baguilat, who also chairs the National Cultural Communities committee of the House of Representatives, added that the government should recall its support for mining militia groups, saying that it would only increase the tension between the supporters and opponents of mining projects and could even lead to an all-out “mining war”.
“The assassination of Fr. Tentorio, who was a known anti-mining activist, and the attack on Taganito mines in Surigao signal the possible start of the mining wars.
Instead of allowing mining militias to protect the interests of the mining companies, President Aquino should declare a moratorium on mining,” said Baguilat.
Tentorio – fondly called Father Pops –was gunned down in a church compound in Arakan town, North Cotabato. Tentorio was 59. Local authorities as well as his colleagues say that his anti-mining stance had to do with his death.
It was well known that the Italian priest, who was part of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions and who had worked in the Philippines since 1978, was opposed to projects that are unsustainable and harmful to indigenous peoples.
“Violence will only escalate if policies allowing mining to desecrate sacred ancestral lands continue as the IPs will not meekly give in to threats, bribery and coercion. I am hoping that the perpetrators of this crime will immediately be brought to justice. This should not be allowed to become another unsolved case, like many of the killings of indigenous peoples in the defense of their ancestral domain,” said Baguilat. # nordis.net
