A report finds that the Philippines is the deadliest country in Asia for environmental defenders.

What it means

A new report from the watchdog group Global Witness finds that the Philippines remains the deadliest country in Asia for environmental and land defenders for the 13th consecutive year. The report verified 12 killings of defenders in the Philippines in 2025, part of a global total of 124. These killings are often linked to mining, logging, and agribusiness, with state security forces frequently implicated.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is based on Global Witness's annual report, which uses rigorous verification methods for each killing. Reporting by Mongabay and other outlets closely follows the primary source, giving high confidence in the headline finding.

How new

Genuinely new; the Global Witness report and associated coverage date from late September 2026, covering the 2025 calendar year.

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