An anti-mining activist has been murdered in the Philippines. Dr Gerry Ortega was shot dead four days ago on Palawan island.

Local mayor Edward Hagedorn told journalists, ‘From the initial findings, we know that this is a politics and vengeance killing.’ Dr Ortega’s family say he had received death threats prior to his murder. A man has been arrested.

Nickel mining on Palawan island threatens to devastate the ancestral land of the Palawan tribe. Dr Ortega had spoken out strongly against mining, and had also exposed government corruption related to the industry.

Despite the Palawan tribe’s opposition, in December last year the local government granted two companies clearance to mine on their land. Companies Macro Asia and the Ipilan Nickel Mining Corporation are now awaiting the final permission they need from the governor of the island, which he is expected to grant by the end of January.