Kilusang Mayo Uno denounces the abduction of environmental rights defenders “Eco” Dangla III and Axielle “Jak” Tiong. According to eyewitness accounts, Eco and Jak were severely beaten up and taken into an SUV around 8 PM yesterday, March 23 at Barangay Polo, San Carlos, Pangasinan.
Eco and Jak strongly opposed the environmental damages of multi-national corporations in Pangasinan, including coal-fired power plants and offshore mining. Eco is also a Bayan Pangasinan at Makabayan Coordinator, while Jak is a Kabataan Partylist Pangasinan Representative. Both coordinators have a long record of organizing people’s organizations consulting with the Pangasinense people to develop pro-people policies and legislation.
Prior to the abduction, Jak and Eco were red-tagged by the NTF-ELCAC, following the pattern of state-sponsored attacks against human rights defenders. Our colleague and labor organizer Elizabeth “Loi” Magbanua has yet to be surfaced. Additionally, such attacks are already proven to be perpetrated by state forces, as seen in the case of unionists Dyan Gumanao and Armand Dayoha in Cebu.
KMU demands the urgent release and the safe return of Axielle Tiong and Eco Dangla, and to stop the attacks on human rights defenders.
#SurfaceEcoandJak