12 Greenpeace members in Iba incident charged with trespass
By JERRY T. UY and JONAS REYES
IBA, Zambales – Twelve members of the Greenpeace environmental watchdog were charged yesterday with trespassing by the local police before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Masinloc, Palauig allegedly for trying to forcibly enter a coal-fired power plant here last Thursday.
Charged were Alistair Troy, Abigail Lois, Carlos Baloloy, Anne Nunn, Shannon Loricco Riley, Kritsana Srithanomwong, Deckhand Lili, Maricar Estacio, Rodora Angeles, Taddeheus Festin, Norineal Tolibas and Ivy May Asuncion.
The group, who arrived on motorized bancas and rubber boats, allegedly tried to forcibly enter the compound with the use of ladders and rubber floor mats, prompting security details to use force on the intruders.
One of the group’s members, German Jens Leowe, 36, was reportedly beaten and hit with a crowbar repeatedly while on the ground by plant security guards. New Zealander Debra Gay Pistor and Filipinas Pam Palma and Janine Mercado were also injured during the scuffle.
The injured members of the Greenpeace were later rushed to a hospital for medical check-up.
In the charge sheet, the names of the injured Greenpeace members were not listed.
The other members of the group were then arrested and turned over to the local police but were released later.
According to Greenpeace campaigner Athena Ronquillo, the protest of Greenpeace at the state-run Masinloc coal plant became violent after the 30-man group attempted to enter the compound to display a banner reading "Stop climate change".
It was the second time in as many weeks that Greenpeace found itself in trouble in the Philippines, the first after its flagship Rainbow Warrior accidentally struck a coral reef while on a mission to study the impact of climate change in Asia. The group later apologized for the destruction.
Loewe, 36, was allegedly beaten up by a plant security guard after the latter had fired a warning shot. Plant personnel and some residents of Masinloc threw rocks at the activists, injuring two Filipino members and a New Zealander.
Sr. Supt. Edgardo Ladao, Zambales Police director, said eight policemen of the Masinloc police detachment responded to the call for help by plant guards.
Police reports stated that about 20 activists "in orange coveralls and helmets on board motorized bancas and rubber boats arrived at the plant at different points along the perimeter fence and the small craft jetty area and tried to forcibly enter using ladders and rubber floor mats."
Some of the activists were able to enter a highly restricted area and climbed the coal silos, according to the National Power Corp. (NPC). It said plant personnel and security guards were able to persuade the activists to come down from the silos after nearly two hours of negotiations.
"When they still refused to leave the premises, a heated argument ensued between the illegal entrants and the plant guards which led to a scuffle. Cooler heads prevailed and the trespassers were later prevailed upon to leave the premises," NPC said.
"One trespasser, complaining of chest pains probably due to the stress of climbing the coal silo, requested to be brought to the nearest hospital. The rest of the group was turned over to the Masinloc police station. Identification revealed that the illegal entrants were composed of Filipino and foreigners," NPC said.
For his part, Greenpeace campaigner Red Constantino said, "We’re disappointed that the Filipino plant personnel prefers to protect the interests of a power plant that brings more harm than good to the people."
IBA, Zambales – Twelve members of the Greenpeace environmental watchdog were charged yesterday with trespassing by the local police before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Masinloc, Palauig allegedly for trying to forcibly enter a coal-fired power plant here last Thursday.
Charged were Alistair Troy, Abigail Lois, Carlos Baloloy, Anne Nunn, Shannon Loricco Riley, Kritsana Srithanomwong, Deckhand Lili, Maricar Estacio, Rodora Angeles, Taddeheus Festin, Norineal Tolibas and Ivy May Asuncion.
The group, who arrived on motorized bancas and rubber boats, allegedly tried to forcibly enter the compound with the use of ladders and rubber floor mats, prompting security details to use force on the intruders.
One of the group’s members, German Jens Leowe, 36, was reportedly beaten and hit with a crowbar repeatedly while on the ground by plant security guards. New Zealander Debra Gay Pistor and Filipinas Pam Palma and Janine Mercado were also injured during the scuffle.
The injured members of the Greenpeace were later rushed to a hospital for medical check-up.
In the charge sheet, the names of the injured Greenpeace members were not listed.
The other members of the group were then arrested and turned over to the local police but were released later.
According to Greenpeace campaigner Athena Ronquillo, the protest of Greenpeace at the state-run Masinloc coal plant became violent after the 30-man group attempted to enter the compound to display a banner reading "Stop climate change".
It was the second time in as many weeks that Greenpeace found itself in trouble in the Philippines, the first after its flagship Rainbow Warrior accidentally struck a coral reef while on a mission to study the impact of climate change in Asia. The group later apologized for the destruction.
Loewe, 36, was allegedly beaten up by a plant security guard after the latter had fired a warning shot. Plant personnel and some residents of Masinloc threw rocks at the activists, injuring two Filipino members and a New Zealander.
Sr. Supt. Edgardo Ladao, Zambales Police director, said eight policemen of the Masinloc police detachment responded to the call for help by plant guards.
Police reports stated that about 20 activists "in orange coveralls and helmets on board motorized bancas and rubber boats arrived at the plant at different points along the perimeter fence and the small craft jetty area and tried to forcibly enter using ladders and rubber floor mats."
Some of the activists were able to enter a highly restricted area and climbed the coal silos, according to the National Power Corp. (NPC). It said plant personnel and security guards were able to persuade the activists to come down from the silos after nearly two hours of negotiations.
"When they still refused to leave the premises, a heated argument ensued between the illegal entrants and the plant guards which led to a scuffle. Cooler heads prevailed and the trespassers were later prevailed upon to leave the premises," NPC said.
"One trespasser, complaining of chest pains probably due to the stress of climbing the coal silo, requested to be brought to the nearest hospital. The rest of the group was turned over to the Masinloc police station. Identification revealed that the illegal entrants were composed of Filipino and foreigners," NPC said.
For his part, Greenpeace campaigner Red Constantino said, "We’re disappointed that the Filipino plant personnel prefers to protect the interests of a power plant that brings more harm than good to the people."
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
9:59 AM
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