The Environmental Defenders Congress (EDC) expressed deep concern and anger over the Court of Appeals’ rejection of the petition filed by Francisco “Eco” Dangla and Joxelle Tiong, environment defenders who were abducted and tortured in 2024, for a permanent writ of amparo and habeas data.

Despite overwhelming evidence that state forces abducted them, the court chose to deny Dangla and Tiong justice and deprived them and their families of the needed protection.

In March 2024, armed men abducted Dangla and Tiong in Pangasinan. For three days, they were subjected to physical and psychological torture and were barred from contacting their families. Before the abduction, state agents had repeatedly red-tagged and vilified them for their active campaigns against destructive projects such as coal-fired power plants, waste-to-energy plants, modular nuclear projects, and black sand mining in the province.

They first filed a Temporary Protection Order and writs of amparo and habeas data with the Supreme Court, which the court upheld in September 2024.

“This ruling does not only betray Eco, Jak, and countless others who risk their lives to defend land, livelihoods, and communities,” the EDC explained.

The EDC further said that the court’s refusal to hold the perpetrators accountable only worsens the culture of impunity in the country.

“We call for a comprehensive, transparent investigation conducted by an autonomous body to ascertain the identities of the perpetrators and hold accountable any state actors implicated. We urge the judiciary to reject this culture of impunity and reaffirm their commitment to justice, transparency and the safety of those defending our environment,” the EDC urged.