Slain Davao militant’s kin cry for justice

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The relatives of Cristina Jose, the militant leader who was slain in Baganga, Davao Oriental last Monday, are seeking justice for her death which they suspect could be the handiwork of the military.

Jose was one of the leaders of survivors of typhoon “Pablo” who stormed the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development here last week to protest the slow distribution of relief goods.

Jose was gunned down by motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Binondo, Baganga town. Her 11-year-old daughter, the youngest of three children, witnessed the attack.

Jose, 40, also a councilwoman of Barangay Binondo, had reportedly just come from a village council meeting when two men fired at her while she and her daughter were boarding a motorcycle driven by her niece.

“The family is seeking justice for the killing of kagawad Cristina Jose. Her daughter witnessed the incident and saw how the triggerman fired at her mother,” said Hamimay Suazo of the Southern Mindanao chapter of Karapatan, a human rights group.

Suazo said Jose’s family suspects that her killing could have something to do with her involvement in the series of protest actions led by Barug Katawhan that included barricading the national highway in Montevista, Compostela Valley last January and the raid on the DSWD regional office last week.

Suazo said Jose’s family felt a great loss with her death, as she was the breadwinner.

“She was the one who had a stable income while her husband was a chainsaw operator and at times did not have any job. They are worried because the three children are still in school,” Suazo said.

Jose was the one who reported the alleged harassment by the military against those who joined the protest actions.

However, Maj. Jake Obligado, commander of the 10th Civilian-Military Relations Office of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the military had nothing to do with Jose’s killing.

“Jose was a friend of the military, and why would we kill her? There is no reason for the military to kill anybody,” Obligado said.– With Rhodina Villanueva