Groups to offer prayers, flowers for ‘environment martyrs’

Hundreds of environmental activists will gather early Thursday evening at designated places in several key cities in the country to offer prayers, flowers and light candles in honor of those who have been killed in the fight for the environment.

The activity is the highlight of this year’s observance of the International Day of Commemoration of the Heroes, Heroines and Martyrs of the Resistance against the Mining, Oil and Gas.

Students, religious people, human rights and environmental activists simultaneously gathered in Manila, Puerto Princesa, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro and offered prayers, flowers, and lighted candles as relatives and friends recalled the lives and struggles of those they called “heroes and heroines” for environment.

Around 200 supporters from the city of Manila will gather at the Pope Pius Center along UN Avenue, and set up portraits of fallen comrades for the planned prayers and other activities.

The killing in Cotabato on Oct. 17 of Italian priest Fr. Fausto Tentorio is the latest in the string of killings of environmentalists for this year alone.

Early this year, Dr. Gerry Ortega of Palawan was shot and killed in Puerto Princesa. Another outspoken anti-mining activist, Datu Roy Gallego, was also killed in Surigao del Sur last Oct 14.

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