{"id":811,"date":"2017-07-01T06:09:32","date_gmt":"2017-07-01T06:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/world.350.org\/philippines\/?p=811"},"modified":"2017-07-05T15:46:12","modified_gmt":"2017-07-05T15:46:12","slug":"for-ate-gloria-a-comrade-in-the-struggle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.350.org\/philippines\/for-ate-gloria-a-comrade-in-the-struggle\/","title":{"rendered":"For Ate Gloria Capitan, a comrade in the struggle"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Derek Cabe<\/span><\/p>\n

As Filipinos mark the first anniversary of Duterte\u2019s inauguration on this day, a significant gathering of environmental activists, fellow human rights defenders, friends, relatives and supporters will likewise be held today honoring the first victim of extrajudicial killings under his administration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ate Gloria Capitan was a staunch environmental activist and human rights defender <\/a>with the Coal-Free Bataan Movement (CFBM). Exactly a year ago, she was gunned down by two unidentified assassins at her karaoke bar in Brgy. Lucanin, Mariveles, Bataan.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the very same day, July 1, 2016, President Duterte was sworn in as the nation\u2019s first president from Mindanao. He won with a promise to Filipinos that change is coming. It turned out that Ate Gloria was only the first victim, and the number of deaths are still climbing. Her death was not just a coincidence but the beginning of an administration\u2019s policy (declared or not) on extrajudicial killings.<\/span><\/p>\n

The news of her assassination brought me into a brief state of disorientation and disbelief. Memories of her being so alive and active played in my mind, at least until Mar, her son, called to confirm the shocking news.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Climate

Climate activists from 350.org Pilipinas pay tribute to slain anti-coal activist Gloria Capitan of Bataan, who was gunned down exactly a year ago (July 1, 2016), the same day President Rodrigo Duterte was sworn into office. Her two assassins remain unidentified until today. Photo: AC Dimatatac<\/p><\/div>\n

Ate Gloria was a very helpful leader and colleague, even selfless at some point. She lived a modest life with her family yet would oftentimes spend her own resources for our shared advocacy. She had rejected bribery several times, in fact she loathed it. She believed that the struggle is not an opportunity for personal gain but for the the greater good.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to her death, she was a key leader of the community that led the campaign launched by the CFBM against pollution and looming environmental destruction, believed to be caused by the open coal stockpile operating at the heart of their village as well as the coal-fired power plants in Bataan.<\/span><\/p>\n