By Delfin Mallari Jr.
Inquirer Southern Luzon
Filed Under: Environmental Issues, Armed conflict
MANILA, Philippines – An environment activist was wounded in an ambush in the northern province of Isabela, one of his colleagues said Sunday.
The victim, Estacio Lim, from the Tanggol Kalikasan (TK, Defense of Nature) and his companions were fired upon by unidentified men along the banks of the Bintacan River in Ilagan City at around noon Friday, said Sheila de Leon, TK director for the Southern Luzon region.
Lim suffered a shrapnel wound on the right buttock, De Leon said, adding the attackers were armed with M16 rifles and M203 grenade launchers.
“The first fire was aimed at my direction but fortunately missed me. It was followed by an explosion from the M-203 and a rapid fire of Armalite [M16] gunshots. I immediately dived for cover, but a piece of shrapnel still hit me,” Lim said in a phone interview.
Doctors said the shrapnel could cause “further harm” if operated on, Lim said.
Lim’s group had just finished checking sightings of the endangered Philippine Eagle and were carrying four seized chainsaws and were guiding 10,000 feet of freshly cut board wood on the river when they were attacked, De Leon said.
Lim said the attack showed the “boldness of environmental criminals.”
“They will do everything. They are ready to kill and die,” he said.
About Tanggol Kalikasan
- Tanggol Kalikasan
- (Defense of Nature) is a non-stock, non-profit and non-governmental organization doing public interest lawyering in the Philippines. It has operated as an environmental law office for 17 years already. Tanggol works with national and international partners and networks and has its main office in Quezon City. It also maintains fully-staffed area offices in Alaminos City, Pangasinan (Northern Luzon Office) and Lucena City (Southern Luzon Office) and field offices in Lipa City and Baao, Camarines Sur.