The EcoWaste Coalition (EWC), a non-governmental network of over 150 community, church, school, environmental and health groups for a zero waste and toxics-free society, denounce the abduction of Francisco “Eco” Dangla III and Axielle “Jak” Tiong last night at San Carlos, Pangasinan.

Eco and Jak are youth leaders and environmental defenders from the said province. They are also the leaders of the Pangasinan People’s Strike for the Environment (PPSEI), a member organization of EcoWaste Coalition and an active member of the Ecology Ministry of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.

PPSEI campaigns for Zero Waste and plastic-free solutions, and supports the fight of communities against proposed waste-to-energy incinerator projects in Pangasinan. They work to ensure not only to protect nature but also the well-being of Filipino communities from the impacts of pollution and environmental degradation.

We are urging the Administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to swiftly take action by tapping the local authorities in finding Eco and Jak, and ensure that they suffer no further harm. Furthermore, we would like to push for the passing of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Act at the Congress to ensure the protection of environmental and rights activists, stopping similar situations such as this from happening again. Likewise, we are calling the attention of the NTF-ELCAC to stop the persecution of activists by putting a stop to red tagging.

In difficult times like these, we are with the families and friends of Eco and Jak as we strongly condemn the relentless harassment and threats to climate activists. Rest assured that we will continuously rally to uphold the rights of the people that are pursuing climate actions for the greater good of the environment and this country.