Several Holland-based NGOs condemned the killing of development worker Willem Geertman who was murdered in front of his office in Pampanga, Philippines Tuesday afternoon.
Amsterdam-based groups Bayan Europe and Dutch-Filipino Solidarity Group asked for a swift non-partisan investigation of the case and quick justice for the 67-year-old Dutchman.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines blamed the Aquino administration for the death of the Executive Director of Alay Bayan Inc. who championed the rights of farmers. It called the Aquino regime a killing machine and cited the death of Italian missionary Fr. Faustino Tentorio as proof that foreign missionaries are not safe in The Philippines.
The International League of People’s Struggle seconded the NDFP’s statement maintaining that Geertman’s cause has hurt the current administration because the ABI supported the struggle of Hacienda Luisita farm workers for land.
Migrante Europe likened their struggle to Geertman since they both fight for the improvement of the lives of Filipinos. Migrante Europe believes this is the major cause of forced migration of Filipinos abroad.
All these organizations believed that Geertman’s death is no simple robbery and that it is politically-motivated. They marched to the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, The Netherlands on Friday to express their sorrow about the incident. Below is a story published on GMA News online. #
