Human rights commission condemns killing of Dutch national

ANGELES CITY – “It is extra-judicial killing (EJK), plain and simple, and we condemn it to all possible extents,” a top official of the Commission on Human Rights Region (CHR) in Central Luzon said Wednesday of the killong of Dutch national Wilhelmus Geertman last July 3.

Lawyer Jasmin Navarro, Central Luzon Human Rights director, said in an interview that her office has conducted its own investigation and that the local police may stick to their theory of simple robbery with homicide and may file a case to such effect.

“By the parameters of the human rights commission, a man has been deprived of his life and that is a human rights violation. It is a case of extra-legal killing, plain and simple,” Navarro said.

It can be noted that Geertman, 67, executive director of the Angeles City-based disaster preparedness non-government organization, was gunned down by two mysterious men that barged into his office past noon Tuesday.

Four witnesses said the killers made no effort to conceal their identities. The gunman was quick without rushing and precisely chose a spot on Geertman’s back before firing.

In a separate development, Antonius Geertman and Maria Elisabeth Geertman, younger brother and sister, respectively, of the victim, were both back from the province of Aurora where their brother was laid to rest Sunday.

The two younger Geertmans were scheduled to meet today, Thursday, with the Dutcth Ambassador to the Philippines Robert Brink to pursue steps to address the killing of their eldest brother which they believe to be political. (Wilfredo A. Villareal)