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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on December 27, 2009

Cry for justice for the death of anti–logging leader

GINGOOG CITY—Early morning of December 24th, Alberto "Berting" Pinagawa, a Higaonon anti–logging leader, hiked from his house in Sitio Muyo, Barangay Minalwang, Claveria, Misamis Oriental to Barangay Eureka, Gingoog City to catch a habal–habal (motorcycle for hire) ride in time for the family Christmas get–together in Barangay Kalipayan, Gingoog City.

While in Sitio Papataon, Barangay Eureka, assailants blocked Berting's way and fired at him at least 20 shots from high–powered guns.

Prior to his death, Berting organized his community to cancel the Industrial Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) awarded in May 2008 to Southwood Timber Corporation (STC). The IFMA awarded to STC covers 11,476 hectares. The logging area awarded to STC is part of the crucial watershed area of Gingoog City.

Hinara Pinagawa, wife of Berting, said that ever since Berting became one of the petitioners of the IFMA cancellation campaign, he had received death threats.

Hinara said: "In the last two meetings for the anti–logging campaign, I had to be with him. He was not afraid to die because what he did was for the good of everyone."

The petition for the cancellation of STC's IFMA was filed last December 18, 2008 before the Office of the Gingoog City Mayor. To date, about 20,000 residents of Gingoog City have signed the cancellation petition.

At the heart of the logging area lies the house of Berting. Each tree that falls from their ancestral domain, Berting could see it from the vantage point of his house.

Datu Carmelito Pinagawa, eldest brother of Berting, said: "The death of my brother is not an isolated case here. My father, who was at the forefront of defending our land, was also brutally killed 27 years ago – almost in the same spot where Berting was murdered."

Based on the data gathered by Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center Kasama sa Kalikasan⁄Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC–KsK), 140 indigenous people have reportedly been killed since May 2001, 14 women, 4 pregnant women, 7 children and 16 key leaders in the forefront of defending against development aggressions like mining, corporate plantations and large–scale dams.

DEC.30, 2010 UPDATE: Early this week, a special session was called by the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Gingoog City to resolve the growing controversy regarding STC's IFMA. After a grueling 6–hour session, 8 councilors endorsed the resolution urging the Department of Environment & Natural Resources Secretary to cancel the IFMA issued to STC. Also early this week, a special mass was held for Berting at Sta. Rita Parish, Gingoog City. In honor of Berting, 30 chapels of Gingoog City simultaneously toll their bells for Berting's courageous act and inspiration to the people of Gingoog City.

Report from Carl Cesar C. Rebuta, Team Leader of Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC–KsK)–Cagayan de Oro Regional Office

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