BANGKOK, Thailand (7 August 2025) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly condemns the shooting of Filipino environmental and indigenous rights defenders Rudolph Dela Cruz Espe and Rico Gonzaga Malubay on 26 July 2025.
Justice and accountability must be served for victims and their families.
“FORUM-ASIA condemns the brutal killing of Filipino environmental human rights defenders Espe and Malubay. We urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate this case. Justice should be accorded to victims and their families without delay. Extrajudicial killings must stop. Any form of violence against human rights defenders should be stopped,” said Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA.
What happened
Espe and Malubay were reportedly shot multiple times by an unidentified gunman along the national highway in Banaybanay in the province of Davao Oriental.
Espe and Malubay served as paralegals for the Ateneo de Davao University. They were respected community leaders, who advocated for environmental and land rights protection as well community development.
Espe actively spoke against destructive mining operations. He openly opposed policies that jeopardized Banaybanay’s biodiversity as well as the rights of indigenous communities. Espe also reportedly criticized the laterite mining operations of Asiaticus Management Corporation and BHP Billiton, which have allegedly caused water pollution in Banaybanay river.
The brutal killing of the two defenders are not isolated incidents. In the Philippines, extrajudicial killings against human rights defenders remain rampant under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Last June, an LGBTQIA+ rights defender Ali Macalintal was also fatally shot.
For over a decade, the Philippines has consistently ranked as the deadliest Asian country for land and environmental defenders. A third of such documented killings in the country are linked to defenders opposing mining projects.
Call to action
FORUM-ASIA renews its call for the Philippine Government to swiftly investigate the brutal killings of human rights defenders.
Perpetrators should be held accountable.
As the Philippines is set to chair ASEAN in 2026, it must fully commit to protecting human rights, particularly on the right to life for all as prescribed by Article 11 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.
“The extrajudicial killing of Espe and Malubay highlights the ongoing pattern of violence that environmental defenders in the Philippines face for simply doing their invaluable work. The government must work hard to reverse this disturbing trend and ensure the safety of all human rights defenders,” Bacalso stressed.
The post [Statement] PHILIPPINES: FORUM-ASIA condemns the killing of environmental and indigenous rights defenders Rudolph Dela Cruz Espe and Rico Gonzaga Malubay first appeared on FORUM-ASIA.
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