Philippines: anti-mining mayor survives killing attempt
Event- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Feb 27, 2022
- Event Description
The Commission on Human Rights condemned the ambush of Infanta, Quezon mayor Filipina Grace America on Wednesday as it vowed to launch its own probe into the attempted killing.
To recall, local police reported that the mayor was on her way home from church when her vehicle was repeatedly shot by unidentified gunmen in Poblacion Uno, Infanta, Quezon on Sunday, February 27.
In a statement, the CHR said that it launched its investigation "in hopes that our independent investigation may help in holding perpetrators to account."
"It is deeply alarming that violations of human rights are becoming more brazen—committed in broad daylight and without regard for human life," lawyer Jacqueline de Guia, CHR spokesperson said.
"Under a democratic society, any dispute—may it be politically-motivated or otherwise—should never be settled through the barrel of a gun."
America is running for re-election in Infanta.
She and her office also voiced strong opposition to the construction of Kaliwa Dam, which advocates say will submerge parts of Quezon and Rizal provinces, threaten wildlife and biodiversity, and displace indigenous communities in the area.
She is still recovering after sustaining gunshot wounds in different parts of her body, the Philippine National Police.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression
- Offline
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- Freedom of expression
- HRD
- Public Servant
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 14.746694612246628
Longitude: 121.64963944754764
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 27 February 2022, Filipina Grace America, anti-mining mayor of Infanta, was the target of an ambush in a bid to kill her, causing injuries by unknown individuals in Infanta, the Philippines.