Slain Dutch NGO worker to be buried in Aurora

GEERTMAN: 46 years of service to PH PHOTO COURTESY OF CDRN/CDRC

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga—As he had wished, slain Dutch development worker Wilhelmus JJ Lutz Geertman, “William” or “Wim” to his friends and colleagues, will be buried in Maria Aurora town in Aurora, where he spent most of his life in the Philippines helping farmers and indigenous peoples.

His girlfriend of four years, Maria Aurora Santiago, said Geertman, 67, had mentioned this wish several times during casual conversations with her and their friends.

It turned out that Geertman, who was shot and killed by two men in his office here on Tuesday, had devoted much of his life in Aurora since 1979 when Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen, then head of the Prelature of Infanta (Quezon), asked him to serve the poor there.

On Friday night, his colleagues in the disaster response management community would hold a tribute for Geertman, whom they call a “Dutchman who is more Filipino.”

Santiago, 45, said Geertman had told her that he left Aurora only thrice. The first was in the 1990s when he worked in The Netherlands. The second was in 2009 when he assumed as executive director of the Alay Bayan-Luson Inc., a disaster response management organization based in Pampanga.

The third time was in 2010 when they left for Raalte in The Netherlands, where Geertman’s family members live.

Santiago said they were set to leave for Raalte on July 28 to present their marriage plan to Geertman’s relatives.

“He tells them, ‘Home is the Philippines, particularly Aurora.’ He tells farmers he loves Aurora and Maria Aurora,” Santiago said when interviewed at ABI’s office, where the wake for Geertman is held.

“Mahal na mahal niya ang mga magsasaka at katutubo (He loved farmers and indigenous peoples very much),” she said.

Geertman, she said, dressed simply, spoke their language and lived simply.

“He’s got this little pension from his government and he shares this with farmers and students,” Santiago said.

Geertman, she said, was one of the founding members of the nongovernment organization Bataris and the advocacy group Justice and Peace Action Group of Aurora, both based in the capital of Baler.

“When I asked why he loves the Philippines so much although he could live a comfortable life in his country, he tells me he feels God’s presence among the poor,” Santiago said.

She said Geertman might have been killed due to his opposition to mining in Aurora. She did not give details but records at the Mines and Geosciences Bureau showed that applications for mineral exploration had been filed to cover many areas in Aurora.

She said she would lead the “justice caravan” for Geertman, which will leave for Aurora on Saturday. Wake will be held at the San Luis Obispo parish in Baler.