Source Davao Today

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—An environmental youth activist from Compostella Valley was reportedly shot dead Thursday, Oct. 13, a human rights group said.

Jay Apiag, spokesperson of Karapatan Southern Mindanao, has identified the victim as Joselito “Anoy” Pasaporte, a resident of Barangay Tagnanan, Mabini in Compostela Valley.

Apiag wrote the details of Pasaporte’s death via his Facebook account. He said that Pasaporte was shot by unidentified gunmen while on his way home at exactly 5:20 p.m Thursday.

Pasaporte is the second activist killed this week after Jimmy Saypan, an anti-mining activist and a peasant leader of Compostela Farmers’ Association, was gunned down Monday, Oct. 10.

Human rights group Karapatan condemned the killings of Pasaporte and Saypan.

Apiag accused the Army to be responsible for Pasaporte’s death. He added that Karapatan, as of press time, is presently investigating the case to gather more evidence.

Apiag viewed the senseless killings as a well-planned attack against human rights  workers and anti-mining activists in Compostela Valley province.