The killing of environmental defenders and indigenous rights advocates Rudolph Dela Cruz Espe and Rico Gonzaga Malubay drew widespread condemnation. The two were killed in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental on July 27.

Katribu held the Marcos administration accountable for the killings. “The crime occurred right before his 4th State of the Nation Address, where he claimed that the Philippines is now more peaceful because of the counter-insurgency efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police,” Katribu stated.

State forces clearly do not bring peace and they also do nothing to address crime and human rights violations in the country, it said.

The case of the killing of the two well-known leaders in their community is not isolated. State forces under the regime also killed other defenders of indigenous and Moro rights such as Antonio Diwayan, Elioterio Ugking, and Ali Macalintal. Another human rights defender, Warren Cahayag, sustained serious injuries after being shot multiple times in Purok Bliss, Barangay Calumpang in General Santos City on July 28.

Destructive mining operations are rampant in Davao Oriental, extensively damaging the environment and killing fish in the rivers and adjacent seas. Dela Cruz Espe and Gonzaga were among those opposing these mining operations. They also served as paralegals for lawyers from Ateneo de Davao University.