PNoy gov't accountable for killings of women's human rights defenders

We denounce the killing of Cristina Jose, the latest victim of extrajudicial killing under the Aquino government.  Cristina Jose was one of the leaders of Barug Katawhan (People Stand Up), an organization of victims of typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental that led the protest at the DSWD office in Davao City. Jose was killed by three men onboard a motorcycle, four days before the world commemorates the International Women's Day.

Jose is the first woman victim of extrajudicial killing documented by Karapatan this year, and the 18th, including four minors, since Pres. Noynoy Aquino took office in 2010.

Cristina Jose, also a Bayan muna member and barangay kagawad (village councilor) of Brgy. Binondo, Bagangga, Davao Oriental, was shot on the left side of her back. The bullet exited through her right breast.  Members of the 67th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) deployed in the area branded Jose as “kagawad ng mga NPA” (the New People's Army's councilor), as she received threats prior to her death.  Prior to the killing, in January 2013, the 67th IBPA conducted military operations in Jose's community, after which Jose assisted human rights teams of Karapatan to investigate the reported cases of harassment against residents/civilians.

The people in Davao Oriental were victims of the government's pro-foreign business policy and neglect, and incompetence. It has opened up our country's resources to big foreign businesses, such as mining and agri-business, which made the poor communities vulnerable to disasters such as super-typhoon Pablo that washed out the already insufficient source of people's livelihood.

The government's callousness to the people's situation is also manifested in the way the Department of Social Welfare and Development deprived the typhoon victims with their supply of relief goods, aside from profiting from overpriced projects such as the bunkhouses for the typhoon victims. When people demanded for food, they get killed.

Women human rights defenders are also being jailed because of trumped up charges. There are currently 33 women political prisoners under the Aquino government. These women are mostly those who exercise their rights to be involved in political and socio-economic struggles of the people. Yet, the government sees them as enemies and are often victims of human rights violations.

Kiri Dalena

Convenor, Tanggol Bayi

2F Erythrina Building, #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets, Central District, Quezon City