Church worker in hiding after 'death threats'

May 28, 2013

A mining site in Surigao del Sur province Philippines
An activist based in Surigao del Sur province in Mindanao has called for government protection after receiving death threats for his stance against mining activities in the area.

Chito Trillanes, who is also a spokesman of Tandag diocese’s social action center, said armed men wearing masks have been searching for him since Friday and even broke into my house.

“The threats are serious. I am afraid for my life and also for my family,” Trillanes told ucanews.com, adding that he needed “urgent protection from the government.”

He said the threats stem from his opposition to mining operations in the province and for his criticisms of environmental abuses by mining firms.

The alleged threats against Trilannes followed the killing of tribal leader Datu Manuel Gardigo earlier this month.

Gunmen shot Gardigo on May 2 in the nearby town of Lanuza.

Gardigo was also active in anti-mining and anti-illegal logging protest actions in the province.

On March 22, Trillanes had led about 300 protesters on a rally outside the Mines and Geosciences Bureau office in the region to demand the immediate implementation of a court order stopping mining activities in the area.

SOURCE:

UCA News