Refrain from accusing military, militants asked

Manila, Philippines -  Malacañang yesterday appealed to militant groups to refrain from accusing the military in the killing of Dutch missionary Willem Geertman without any proof.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said all allegations must be supported with evidence. He stressed the government is doing everything to give justice to Geertman.

“If you don’t (have evidence), then don’t just keep on attacking the military,” he said.

Whether the military was involved or it was a case of robbery, Lacierda said the investigation must be allowed to be completed.

“Whatever the motivation in the killing of Geertman, let’s bring them out, let’s give the leads to authorities and these will be investigated,” he said.

Lacierda said that in any investigation, all leads were being considered and “if somebody can give you a good lead, then you follow the trail and if that leads to something then that’s where the evidence (will take you).”

“We condemn the murder of the Dutch worker. He’s been helping this country in this sphere of activities and we commend him for that,” he said.

Militant groups maintained the military had a hand in the killing of Geertman in San Fernando, Pampanga last Tuesday.

Militant groups: Killing premiditated

Karapatan and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Central Luzon claimed the killing of Geertman was “premeditated and not just a case of robbery.”

They said Geertman had been “vilified and harassed” by the military “to his advocacy and his work with the poor and oppressed and their organizations.”

Geertman, executive director of Alay Bayan Inc. (ABI), was shot by two unidentified men a few meters from his office in Barangay Telebastagan in San Fernando City.

The 67-year-old Dutch missionary was reportedly assisting farm workers in Hacienda Luisita in his capacity as an official of ABI. The hacienda is owned by President Aquino’s family.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the strongest indication point to Geertman as a victim of robbery.

“We are looking at many possible angles and we are still gathering evidence. But we are still looking at robbery as he withdrew a large sum of money before he was killed,” PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Generoso Cerbo said.

Cerbo noted the report of the Pampanga police that Geertman withdrew P1.2 million from a bank in Angeles City before he was shot dead by two suspects who escaped on a motorcycle.

After the shooting, police said the gunmen took the victim’s bag containing the cash.

Cerbo said a video grab from a closed circuit television camera in the area showed the suspects and their getaway motorcycle. He said the police task force is now studying them.

“The video grab could help us identify the suspects as well as trace their motorcycle,” he said.

The Pampanga police led by Senior Superintendent Edgardo Tinio authorized a manhunt operation against the suspects.

“We have already saw the face of the killers of Geertman, what we are going to do is to know their identities and their addresses,” Tinio said.

According to Tinio, the police task force investigating the murder already had a lead on the gunmen but refused to elaborate, citing security.

Meanwhile, Geertman’s brother Toon and sister Maria arrived from the Netherlands late Friday to attend their brother’s wake at the ABI compound in Barangay Telebastagan.

The remains were brought yesterday morning in a caravan to Ma. Aurora town in Aurora, which the victim had considered his home province. – Aurea Calica, Mike Frialde, Ric Sapnu, Ding Cervantes