By JIGGER JERUSALEM - Correspondent and MARK FRANCISCO - Staff member Updated January 12, 2010 12:00 AM
ANTI-LOGGING. The widow of murdered anti-logging advocate Alberto Pinagawa, Genera (center), and Fr. Jose Cabantan (right) of the Archdiocese Social Action Center hold copies of a petition against logging operations in Gingoog city. The petition, reportedly signed by some 25 thousand people, would be sent to Environment Secretary Eleazar Quinto. At left is Ariel Hernandez, a representative of a Mindanao-based partylist group. (photo by jigger jerusalem)
DRIVING a logging company out of Gingoog city would be enough justice for the Pina-gawa family.
Holding back tears, murdered anti-logging activist Alfredo Pinagawa’s widow Genara said she would no longer wish that the murder case would be solved and for the killers to stand on trial and receive punishment.
“Ang amo lang unta nga matuman ang nabiyaang pangandoy sa akong bana nga unta mawala na ang logging sa STC sa among dapit sa Barangay Minalwang. Igo na kana kanamo,” said Genara during a news conference here yesterday.
STC is Southwood Timber Corp. which is the holder of an industrial forest management agreement (Ifma) that allows it to cut trees in eastern Misamis Oriental, including Gingoog city.
Genara was presented by the Legal Rights Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan (LRC-KSK) before the group left for Manila.
The group was to bring to Environment Secretary Elea-zar Quinto a petition signed by thousands against STC’s Ifma, according to LRC-KSK regional head Carl Cesar Rebuta.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) announced that it would carry out a separate investigation into the Dec. 24 murder of Pinagawa. The victim succumbed to at least 20 gunshot wounds caused by M-16 rifles.
CHR director for northern Mindanao Jeanne Ivy Abrina said she ordered her staff to get the statements of all stakeholders, including executives of Southwood.
Southwood, according to Rebuta, is based in Butuan City.
The investigation will start next week.
“All perpetrators must be brought to justice. We must find out the truth,” Abrina said.
Ariel Hernandez, a representative of a Mindanao-based party-list group, said he hoped Pinagawa’s death would serve as an eye opener so that people in Region 10 would start caring for the environment.
Genera told reporters she and her family were fearing for their lives.
‘‘Please help us,’’ she asked reporters.
Genera said they were under threat and her family’s livelihood was adversely affected because they were forced to flee from Eureka, the village where they built a home.
Rebuta said his group was helping the Pinagawas in making both ends meet.
The victim’s nephew, Elyboy Pinagawa, said his uncle’s death was not in vain.
“Sa pagpiyong sa iyang mga mata, daghang mata ang nabuka,” he said.
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