No arrests yet a year after Dutchman’s killing

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – Multi-sectoral groups from various parts of Central Luzon will gather here today to commemorate the first anniversary of the killing of Dutch missionary Willem Geertman who had devoted his life to helping victims of disasters and human rights violations in the region.

“A year has passed since Willem’s legal case has been filed in court. Robbery with homicide was filed for a case that was clearly an extra-judicial murder. A petition for review was filed with the Department of Justice whose deadline is July,” said Sister Cecille Ruiz, who chairs the human rights group Karapatan-Gitnang Luson.

On July 3 last year, Geertman, 67, was shot dead in the compound of Alay Bayan Inc., a relief and rehabilitation group which he headed as executive director in Barangay Telabastagan near San Fernando’s boundary with this city.

Police later filed homicide and robbery charges against some suspects, but Geertman’s partner, Aurora Santiago, instead filed a murder case against a certain Marvin Marsan and Harold de la Cruz and four John Does.

No arrests have been made in either case, even as Geertman’s supporters, including compatriots in the Netherlands, formed the Justice for Willem Geertman Movement.