The Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa, Auckland Philippines Solidarity, and Wellington Kiwi Pinoy said they are outraged by the recent murder of Dutch Willem Geertman, a 67-year-old community worker.
"Now with two killings of European nationals under Aquino, the government’s failure to stop impunity is turning the Philippines into one of the most dangerous places for foreign missionaries," the groups said, referring also to the killing of 59-year old Italian missionary Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio in Mindanao more than a year ago.
PSNA secretary Murray Horton said the President Benigno Aquino III's administration has failed to protect and secure foreigners who serve the indigents in the Philippines.
"It's not fun when foreign nationals serving amongst poor and deprived sectors in the Philippines are also targeted by armed forces that operate in defense of the interests of government, mining, big business and landlords instead of the protection of the rights of the poor," Horton said.
APS spokesperson Cameron Walker said their group will lead a protest action this weekend in one of the landmarks in Auckland, New Zealand to call for justice and end to impunity in the Philippines.
Shot while kneeling down
Meanwhile, rights group Karapatan said Geertman was a staunch supporter of Hacienda Luisita farmers in Tarlac and the indigenous peoples who are against the APECO project in Aurora province.
"He is the 95th victim of extra-judicial killing under Aquino," Karapatan spokesperson Cristina Palabay said.
Geertman was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding men in front of his office in inside L&S subdivision in Angeles City at around 12:45 p.m.
Fred Villareal, vice-chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in Pampanga, said the gunmen also pointed their pistol at him when he tried to run after them to get the plate number of their getaway motorcycle.
Villareal said Geertman and three members of his staff arrived at their office in his Isuzu vehicle after withdrawing money from Metrobank when the two suspects parked their motorcycle outside the ABI compound.
“I had just emailed my story, which I did on the terrace of the office when I saw the suspects holding Willem, who was then kneeling. That’s when the shot rang out. I then tried to rush towards them but one suspect pointed his gun at me. I again ran after them as they fled to get the plate number of their motorcycle, but one of the suspects again pointed his gun at me before they fled,” he said.
Villareal said the suspects could have trailed the victim from the bank, although he could not recall seeing them flee with any bag or envelop in which the victim could have kept the money.
However, a later report said that the gunmen fled with the victim’s bag, which contained about P1.2 million.
He said the suspects were wearing baseball caps and jackets but did not bother to cover their faces.
