Margarito “Boy” Cabal, 47 years old was gunned down by unidentified men riding a red motorcycle 6:30 pm on May 9, 2012 in Kibawe town province of Bukidnon.
Boy Cabal is a resident of Brgy. Tumaras, Kibawe, Bukidnon, a predominantly agricultural area hosting thousands of rural poor who depend much on land for daily sustenance. He has been vocal against plans to establish a Hydroelectric Mega Dam Project – Pulangi V of the electric firm First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative (FIBECO) which if materialized would submerge 22 villages in Bukidnon and Cotabato inclusive of several sacred indigenous peoples’ sites and countless small farms directly displacing thousands of the rural population.
Being a member of the Save Pulangi Alliance, a coalition of peoples in Bukidnon and Cotabato resisting the dam project, he has actively helped raise awareness of the issue. They have gathered strong support for their cause especially among the residents in the target communities. Through his invaluable effort, the alliance has also persuaded several local government officials to withdraw their endorsement of the project. His actions has empowered residents and at the same time angered the few who are in cahoots with the big businesses.
In his death, the rural sectors of Bukidnon spearheaded by the Bukidnon Farmers’ Association (KASAMA-BUKIDNON) expressed condemnation of the incident. The group said that they shall remain unfazed by Cabal’s death and that they shall thwart all attempts to weaken their organization’s unity in the struggle for genuine land reform and against development aggression.
And we collectively shout:
Justice for Boy Cabal, end human rights violations and impunity in Northern Mindanao!
No to Electric Mega Dam Project!
Stop the killings in the Philippines!
Justice for all victims of human rights violations!
End impunity now!
*Alerto Peasante (Peasant Alert) is published by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Philippine Peasant Movement) in Northern Mindanao.
For reference:
Gary Ben Villocino
Public Information Officer, KMP-NMR
E: [email protected]
Mobile #: +63 946 717 9227
—
RURAL MISSIONARIES OF THE PHILIPPINES-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR)
Room 01, Kalinaw Lanao Center for Interfaith Resources
0016 Bougainvilla Puti, Villaverde
9200 Iligan City, Philippines
T/F: +63 (63) 223 5179 E: [email protected] W: www.rmp-nmr.org
“our love is not to be just words or mere talk but something real and active” –1 John 3:18
