By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.
MANILA, Philippines — Environmental and human rights groups condemned the arrest of three Indigenous Peoples leaders of Kasibu Intertribal Response for Ecological Development (Kired) during negotiations between police and residents at the barricade of a mining community in Nueva Vizcaya.
The three IP leaders, Leijin Dugay, Donny Dugay and June Fataccad, were charged on Aug. 19 with grave coercion and disobedience, violations under the Revised Penal Code, but were subsequently released on bail that day.
The three leaders were among those securing the barricade set up by residents against further exploration by mining firm North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation (NLMRC) in Barangay Paquet in Kasibu town.
The Center for Environmental Concerns, Human Rights Watch and Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (PNE) issued separate statements demanding the immediate dropping of charges against them. The groups said the arrests were arbitrary and made without any warrants.
