Philippines activists Castro and Tamano disappearance
- Communities and civil society A fishers' organisation: Dredging in Cavite continued after the suspension of Manila Bay reclamation; the organisation said small fishers' income fell by 80–90%. Philippine Daily Inquirer
- Government and regulators Environment department: Suspended all Manila Bay reclamation projects in August 2023 (22 projects), with 2 allowed to resume in November. ABS-CBN News (citing PNA)
Two activists who opposed land reclamation in Manila Bay were abducted in Bataan in September 2023. The Supreme Court granted them protection writs and found elements of enforced disappearance.
Writs of amparo and habeas data granted; ruling dated 24 October 2023, released 15 February 2024.
Status As of April 2026: the Supreme Court protection order was reported upheld in December 2025; the sources reviewed show no criminal ruling.
- Boskalis — Dredging work covered by €1.5bn of Atradius DSB insurance for San Miguel's airport reclamation. Both ENDS
- Castro and Tamano — Abducted on 2 September 2023. Supreme Court of the Philippines (via Lawphil)
- Small-scale fishers (as stated by a fishers' organisation) — Reported income falls of 80–90%; not independently verified. Philippine Daily Inquirer
What happened
Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, members of AKAP KA Manila Bay, were anti-reclamation advocates in Manila Bay. They were abducted on 2 September 2023 in Orion, Bataan.
The army presented the two as surrenderers. At that event they said they had been abducted.
The Supreme Court granted writs of amparo and habeas data and a protection order, and found elements of enforced disappearance. The decision is dated 24 October 2023 and was released on 15 February 2024. A December 2025 report said the Supreme Court had upheld the protection order.
In May 2022 the Dutch export credit agency Atradius DSB had given the dredging company Boskalis €1.5bn of insurance cover for San Miguel's airport reclamation in Manila Bay, according to a Both ENDS press release.
In August 2023 the environment department suspended all Manila Bay reclamation projects: 22 were suspended and 2 were later allowed to resume in November.
- 2022May: Atradius DSB gives Boskalis €1.5bn of insurance cover for San Miguel's airport reclamation
- 202310 August: all Manila Bay reclamation projects reported suspended; 2 September: Castro and Tamano abducted in Orion, Bataan; 24 October: Supreme Court decision granting amparo and habeas data writs; 2 projects allowed to resume in November
- 202415 February: Supreme Court decision released; Court of Appeals reported to have denied the writs in August
- 2025December: Supreme Court reported to have upheld the protection order
What was said
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Presented the two as surrenderers.
At the army event they said they had been abducted.
Granted writs of amparo and habeas data and a protection order, finding elements of enforced disappearance.
Supreme Court of the Philippines (via Lawphil)Dredging in Cavite continued after the suspension of Manila Bay reclamation; the organisation said small fishers' income fell by 80–90%.
Philippine Daily InquirerSuspended all Manila Bay reclamation projects in August 2023 (22 projects), with 2 allowed to resume in November.
ABS-CBN News (citing PNA)How it looked
Shown
- The two activists were presented as surrenderers at an army event.The army
Recorded
- The Supreme Court granted writs of amparo and habeas data plus a protection order and found elements of enforced disappearance.
- The protection order was reported upheld in December 2025.
- Atradius DSB gave Boskalis €1.5bn of insurance cover in May 2022 for San Miguel's airport reclamation.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- Supreme Court of the Philippines (24 October 2023 (released 15 February 2024)): Granted writs of amparo and habeas data and a protection order; found elements of enforced disappearance. · Supreme Court of the Philippines (via Lawphil)
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2023-10-24 (released 2024-02-15)Claimant wonPetition for writs of amparo and habeas data (G.R. No. 269249)Supreme Court of the Philippines · Civil · Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano → Not stated in the sources reviewed
The Court granted writs of amparo and habeas data and a protection order and found elements of enforced disappearance. A December 2025 report said it upheld the protection order. Supreme Court of the Philippines (via Lawphil)
Insurers
- 2022No policy found€1.5bn Insurance coverAtradius DSB (Dutch export credit agency) → Boskalis
Atradius DSB gave Boskalis €1.5bn of insurance cover in May 2022 for San Miguel's airport reclamation, according to a Both ENDS press release. No claim is recorded. Both ENDS
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
- Disputed Did Manila Bay reclamation harm the bay's fishers?
Insurers
- Unclear Atradius DSB (Dutch export credit agency): no decision on record.
Figures
- Insufficient Small fisher income drop pct: Claim by a fishers' organisation reported by the Inquirer.
Accounts
- Disputed How did the two activists come to be in army custody?
Record
- Unclear The Court of Appeals denied the writs in August 2024; how this relates to the Supreme Court grant is unclear in the sources reviewed.
- None on record The sources reviewed give two framings of the Supreme Court decision date: a decision dated 24 October 2023 and an announcement in February 2024.
- Insufficient Reported but not independently verified: the exact wording of the activists' statement at the army event that they had been abducted.
Did the harm stop?
Reclamation projects were suspended in August 2023, before the abduction on 2 September 2023. Two were allowed to resume in November 2023.
Who paid?
The two activists, who were abducted. The record also states that small-scale fishers' groups reported income losses from Manila Bay reclamation.
Sources
Government and regulators
- Supreme Court of the Philippines statement on the rulingSupreme Court of the Philippines ·
Courts
- Supreme Court decision, G.R. No. 269249 (24 October 2023)Supreme Court of the Philippines (via Lawphil) · 2023-10-24
Press and investigations
- SC upholds protection order for eco advocatesDaily Tribune · 2025-12-10
- All Manila Bay reclamation projects suspended: DENRABS-CBN News (citing PNA) · 2023-08-10
- On World Fisheries Day, groups protest reclamation projects in Manila BayPhilippine Daily Inquirer ·
- 2 Manila Bay reclamation projects expected to resume soonABS-CBN News · 2024-02-28
Communities and civil society
Connected cases
- Maldives awards Gulhifalhu reclamation contract to Boskalis without tender Maldives · 2019–2024
- Boskalis (Company) — here: Dredging contractor; there: dredging contractor for Gulhifalhu phase one
- Manila Bay rehabilitation resettlement and Pasig riverwalk Philippines · 2019–2025
- Supreme Court of the Philippines (Court) — here: Court that granted the writs; there: Court whose decision underlies the rehabilitation programme