World · Philippines Bureau
Legarda pushes for tougher safeguards for environmental defenders
Senator Loren Legarda has called for stronger protective measures for environmental advocates facing threats and violence. The appeal comes as the Philippines grapples with a rising toll of killings linked to land and resource disputes.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Senator Loren Legarda on Tuesday urged the government to implement more robust measures to shield environmental defenders from violence and intimidation, citing alarming security concerns facing communities engaged in land and resource protection.
Legarda's statement underscores growing dangers confronting activists and indigenous groups defending their territories and natural resources. According to international monitoring organization Global Witness, the Philippines recorded 12 killings of environmental defenders in 2025, the highest number documented outside Latin America.
The senator emphasized that the persistent threat to environmental advocates reflects deeper structural challenges, including unresolved land disputes and resource conflicts that leave vulnerable communities exposed to violence. She stressed the need for comprehensive measures to address root causes while simultaneously strengthening protective mechanisms for those working to defend ecosystems and communal lands.
Legarda's call adds to mounting pressure on authorities to investigate killings tied to environmental activism and resource conflicts, and to establish effective mechanisms to prevent further violence against defenders working on frontline conservation and community land rights issues.