VATICAN CITY, MARCH 8, 2009 (Zenit.org). - Benedict XVI is calling for a renewal of the commitment to respect the dignity and vocation of all women everywhere. The Pope stated this today, on the occasion of International Women's Day, in an audience after praying the midday Angelus in St. Peter's Square.

JUSTICE AND PEACE DESK
SOCIAL ACTION CENTER
DIOCESE OF MARBEL
CFC Bldg., Cathedral Compound,
Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506
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The Diocese of Marbel through the Justice and Peace Desk of the Social Action Center strongly condemn the killing of Eliezer “Boy” Billanes last March 9, 2009 in Koronadal City!

Boy Billanes was the Executive Director of Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Timug Kutabato (SAMATIKU), a member of the board of trustees of Coalition of Social Development Organization of South Cotabato, an active member of the local government development committees of Koronadal and the province of South Cotabato and an active member of various progressive organizations.

Of all his affiliations, Boy Billanes is well known for his stand against any forms of development aggressions especially the presence of the large scale mining company in Tampakan. He has long been a formidable partner of the Social Action Center in its advocacies for environment, human rights, justice and peace.

Recently, the Military has been conducting pulong-pulong in the barangays of Tampakan, tagging anti-mining advocates, including the church, as supporters or as members of the New Peoples Army (NPA). Boy Billanes was one of the many personalities tagged as such and had received numerous threats before his assassination.

The diocese of Marbel does not tolerate any form of repression especially through extrajudicial killings. The right to life is a gift for everybody; no one has the right to take it. The wheel of justice is the proper venue for resolution of any case.

We therefore call on the proper authorities to conduct a thorough and speedy investigation on the killing of Boy Billanes and bring into the bar of justice the ones responsible.

We extend forth our sincerest and deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Boy Billanes. We are willing to extend any help we can to achieve justice for Boy!

Done this 10^th of March, 2009, Justice and Peace Desk - Social Action Center, Diocese of Marbel.

Sr. Pat Babiera, OND

(signed)

JP desk Coordinator

Noted by:

(signed)

Dinualdo D. Gutierrez, DD

Bishop of the Diocese of Marbel

The working group on Mining in the Philippines Report and Map Launching was hosted by the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Marbel last January 27, 2009 at the Christ the King Retreat Center.

This group was established in 2007 after the publication in January that year of the report, Mining in the Philippines Concerns and Conflicts. Based in Britain it is chaired by the Right Honorable Clare Short MP, United Kingdom’s former minister of international development with a Columbian Missionary Society, Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility, Philippine Indigenous Peoples’ Links and IUCN-CEESP.

SOUTH COTABATO GOVERNMENT is crafting an environmental code. One of the issues being deliberated on is open pit mining.

Open pit mining operations in several provinces - Marinduque, Albay, Palawan, Surigao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte, Negros Occidental, etc. - have degraded the environment, caused sickness and killed crustaceans and fish.

What is Environmental Justice?

• Quality of life for all, fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.
• Everyone should have a safe and healthy place to live, work and play
• Enough for us- and the future
• We need to make sure there are enough resourcesfor all of us and future generations.

 Last January 29, 2009 at 11:00 in the evening, the New Peoples' Army under the Valentin Palamine Regional Operations command of the Far South Mindanao Region attacked and burned the PNP Station in Tampakan, South Cotabato. They confiscated 2 base radios, one M16 rifle, one .45 caliber pistol, 1 laptop computer with classified data, and wounded 3 policemen as indignation against mining of the Xtrata-SMI in the areas of Kiblawan, Tampakan and Columbio.