Palace blames land claimants' 'viciousness' for killings of activists

THE spate of killings of land rights activists in the Philippines was driven by the "viciousness" of the rivalry among the land claimants, Malacañang said on Tuesday, July 30.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the remark in reaction to a report by Britain-based Global Witness that the Philippines is the world's deadliest nation for people defending their land and environment.

Global Witness said 164 farmers and land rights activists were killed worldwide in 2018.

Of this number, 30 were from the Philippines, the highest ever recorded in an Asian country, the report noted.

"Well, that happens. If there are conflicts among claimants of a particular land. Killings occur because of the viciousness of the rivalry between the claimants," Panelo said in a press conference.

In January, former Agrarian Reform secretary Rafael Mariano claimed that a total of 177 farmers have been killed since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016.

Mariano noted that the highest number of slain farmers came from Mindanao, Negros, and Bicol.

Panelo said the Palace was concerned over the latest report by the Global Witness.

"Let me tell you that the government will always be concerned with respect to any violence inflicted against the citizens of this country, whether done by outside forces or by those inside this country," he said. (SunStar Philippines)