DAVAO CITY – Environmental activists called for the resignation of President Benigno Aquino III on the occasion of the International Earth Day on Wednesday, saying they are disgusted with the president’s performance in managing the country’s natural resources.
Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE), fisherfolk federation Pamalakaya, scientist group Agham, and other environment advocate groups delivered their “People’s Ultimatum” in a theatrical performance depicting the President who was ‘dumped’ in a trash can in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan PNE said the Administration has failed to protect the environment.
“The past five years of Aquino’s environmental, economic and military policies has promoted development aggression that has led to widespread environmental destruction and natural resource plunder,” Bautista said.
Clemente also called for the resignation of environment officials for inaction on “environmental crimes”.
“If Aquino and his environment officials are unable to take substantial action on outstanding issues of pollution, plunder, and militarization, they should resign from their post and be held to account for their environmental crimes,” Baustista said.
The protesters demand include: scrapping of the Mining Act of 1995 and imposition of a moratorium on all foreign, large-scale mining projects; and imposition of a moratorium on all new coal-fired power plants.
