5th July 2016
Translated from Filipino
Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KILUSAN) strongly condemns the treacherous murder of our comrade Gloria Capitan of Mariveles, Bataan!
Gloria was the leader of Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan sa Lucanin or SNML (United Citizens of Lucanin Association). She was one of the women leaders who amplified the issue of coal, spearheading a petition against the coal pile, and filing a case with the Ombudsman against the barangay captain, local government officials and the DENR for failing to act on the peoples petition to stop the coal pile.
The open storage coal facility of Sea Front Shipyard Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of Limay Bulk and Handling Terminal, which is owned by the Ignacio Family.
Gloria led the peoples’ fight against this project.
People opposing projects that directly impact on their lives, livelihoods and health have always been met with violence. Since they organized, people who have been part of the struggle have faced various threats. The local intelligence agents, together with the owner of the storage have continuously threatened Gloria and others who have resisted the coal project. There were constant reminders and veiled threats to them that “they are going against big and powerful forces.”
On July 1, 2016, at around 8 in the evening, Gloria was seated inside her small videoke bar, when someone approached her, put his arm around her shoulder and shot her in the neck.
We will continue to advance the interest of the people despite the violence inflicted against our ranks.
We will continue to shout for justice for Gloria, justice for the people of Bataan- particularly in Mariveles who are slowly being killed because of coal.
We urge the Duterte administration, whom we know is pro-coal, to take into account the ill effects of coal on the people especially those residing near these projects, and stop supporting this kind of energy source.
#HustisyaKayKasamangGloria (Justice for Comrade Gloria)
#HustisyaSaMamamayan (Justice for the People)
