Philippines hunts for Dutchman’s murderers

Wilhelm Geertman (3rd from left), a Dutch NGO worker, killed in his office in Angeles, Pampanga, Tuesday by a lone gunman. Activist group Bayan has condemned the killing and calls for swift justice. Photo courtesy of Bayan

MANILA, Philipines—Philippine authorities said Wednesday they would look into all possible angles in the murder of a Dutch NGO worker, a day after friends rejected police theories that he was shot by robbers.

William Geertman, 67, who worked for an anti-malaria campaign, was killed on his way to his office in the northern city of San Fernando in Pampanga in what police initially described as a robbery as gunmen took a bag of cash he was carrying.

But national police spokesman Senior Superintendent Generoso Cerbo said Wednesday police would carefully examine all evidence, even as the military denied allegations it was behind the shooting.

“In due time, we will discover the true motive and later, we will see who are the perpetrators,” Cerbo told reporters.

Local activists said Geertman, in addition to his duties as head of community health organization, had helped farmers, tribal groups and environmentalists. They suggested his murder was linked to the government’s counter-insurgency campaign against communist rebels.

One activist group said he had been in the country for 46 years and had helped tribal groups, organizing them into a coalition.

Communist insurgents issued a statement saying that he had even worked with farm workers in the massive plantation owned by Aquino’s family.

However, military spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc dismissed claims it had been involved in the killing.

“That is an irresponsible accusation which is not based on evidence. If they have proof that our soldiers are behind this killing, we will not hesitate to let the accused soldiers answer the charges in a court of law,” Cabunoc said.

President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda expressed optimism the crime would eventually be solved, saying closed circuit television had caught footage of the suspects’ getaway car.

The Netherlands embassy in Manila declined to comment on the crime on Wednesday.