112th Filipino environmentalist killed since early 2000

Resort owner identified as mastermind in killing of environment lawyer in Bohol

Aspecial investigation body identified a resort owner as a suspected mastermind in the killing of a lawyer of environment activists in Bohol central Philippines, sources said, adding environment activists called for an investigation. She was the 112th environmentalist killed since early 2000.

Composed of personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police in Tagbilaran, the investigation body identified a resort owner in Panglao, Bohol as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Mia Manuelita MascarinasGreen on Zamora Street, San Isidro village, in Tagbilaran before five on February 15.

The four gunmen who pumped 27 bullets from calibre 45 and 9mm on the neck of Mascarinas-Green were also identified as residents of Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte, in southern Philippines, said senior inspector Reslin Abella, spokesman of PNP Tagbilaran.

Mascarinas-Green represented a client who raised an environment issue against the resort owner, said Abella, but did not give more details.

Marcarinas-Green was ambushed while she was driving a van with her twins, aged two, a 10-year old daughter, and a housemaid, near her home. Doctors declared her dead on arrival when brought to a nearby hospital. Her children and maid survived the incident, police records said.

She was the 112th environmental activists killed since 2002, Naderev Sano, executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia told Gulf News.