We vehemently condemn the abduction and enforced disappearance of Francisco “Eco” Dangla III and Axielle “Jak” Tiong on the evening of March 24, 2024 in San Carlos City, Pangasinan Province, Philippines.

Eco and Jak are conveners of the Pangasinan People’s Strike for the Environment (PPSE) established in 2021. PPSE is also part of the Pangasinan Empowered Action on Care for the Environment (PEACENet) that included the Social Action Networks of Caritas in the Dioceses of Urdaneta and Alaminos, and the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. They were also active in other faith-based environmental formations such as the Pangasinan Ecumenical Fellowship and the Justice and Peace Church Ecology Ministry of the Diocese of Dagupan-Lingayen. Through these formations, they were able to work on environmental campaigns in 15 towns and 55 parishes.

Among the environmental issues that they worked on were the protection of Lingayen Gulf from black sand mining, opposition to the six nuclear plants proposed in Labrador Municipality, coal-fired power plants, and proposed waste incinerators for waste-to-energy. As part of the Environmental Defenders Congress (EDC) and the Asia Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders (APNED), they also sought to increase protection of and accountability from attacks on environmental defenders.

Eco and Jak, who were both from Pangasinan province, were staunch advocates of upholding environmental rights and human rights in general, especially in the poor and marginalized communities of farmers and fisherfolk.

Before their disappearance, they were victims of red-tagging, or the practice of the government of naming individuals and organizations as communists or terrorists, which is often a prelude to further attacks.

Their case is the 22nd and 23rd incident of enforced disappearance under the 21-month administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

We call for the immediate release of Eco and Jak and all victims of enforced disappearances. In addition, we call to stop the attacks and for accountability for the continuing attacks on environmental defenders. In particular, we call for the Philippine government to urgently investigate the abduction of Eco and Jak and ensure that they are released safely.

Signed:

Asia Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders

Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines Inc.

Environmental Defenders Congress

Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment

Click the link to sign https://shorturl.at/fwyAO