Widows of the war against peoples and communities

They could have been paralyzed by depression and fear after losing their husbands suddenly and violently. But they chose to trek the dangerous road of the struggle for justice and for the defense of their land, livelihood and life.

Daisy Paborada, taking on the fight from where her husband fell

Daisy Paborada, a farmer, 41, and her late spouse had once ploughed their share of the 520-hectare ancestral domain along with the rest of the Higaonon tribe.

Since 2003, the Paborada family had enjoyed their simple and peaceful life. (Click here to continue reading)

Sharon Liguyon, realizing the need to fight for their land

Sharon Liguyon, 36, would never forget how she fervently tried to convince her husband Jimmy to sign his consent for the mining company to operate in their area.

“He said he would never sign it even if he would be killed. And he was killed,” Sharon said.

Jimmy, village chief of Dao, was killed on Mar. 5. Aldy “Butsoy” Salusad went inside Liguyons’ house and shot Jimmy three times. Salusad is a leader of the New Indigenous People’s Army while his father Ben heads the San Fernando Matigsalug Tribal Datus. Both paramilitary groups are working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (Click here to continue reading)

Activist’s widow Rosalie Cabal vows to continue the fight for justice

From the very beginning, Rosalie Cabal, 42, understood why her husband Margarito fought, until his last breath, against the proposed construction of a hydroelectric dam in their community. Life has all the more been difficult for Rosalie since Margarito was killed. But she continues to fight because, for her, it is the only way to move forward.

“Margarito did not approve of the project. He knew that once the dam project would push through our whole community would be submerged in water,” Rosalie told Bulatlat.com.

Margarito, or Boy as he is dearly called by friends and colleagues, was gunned down on May 9 around 6:15 p.m. He was an active leader against the construction of a hydroelectric dam in Pulangi River. (Click here to continue reading)