Wilhelmus JJ Lutz Geertman. FILE PHOTO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A state prosecutor has accepted evidence cited in a private complaint that Dutch development worker Wilhelmus JJ Lutz Geertman was murdered and was not a victim of homicide committed during a robbery on July 3 as claimed by the police.
State Prosecutor Philip Tumala was presented with a second video showing two of the Dutchman’s killers boarding a red Mitsubishi Gallant and the description of a vehicle that was observed following Geertman’s Nissan pickup before he was shot dead at the terrace of his Alay Bayan-Luson Inc. (ABI) office on Rue de Paree in Angeles City.
The video also showed the supposed killers standing in front of a convenience store on Sto. Rosario Road, also in Angeles City, minutes after they exited the gate of L&S subdivision where the Dutchman was shot dead.
The video was delivered by lawyer Edre Olalia, secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, who represents Geetman’s fiancée, Ma. Aurora Santiago. The fiancée filed a murder complaint on Aug. 16, contrasting with the police version that the Dutchman was robbed and killed.
The police presented the first video footage taken from a closed-circuit television at the subdivision’s main gate, which showed a red car trailing Geertman’s vehicle and being followed by a motorcycle. At the exit gate, the motorcycle was observed speeding off, carrying three riders.
“The footage revealed the identities of the suspects, one of whom was in the rogues gallery of the police and yet the police have not detained anyone, even for questioning,” Olalia said. “There were missed opportunities [in the investigation].”
The police pursued a robbery angle because of missing amounts of cash, which the 67-year-old Geertman withdrew from a bank shortly before he arrived in his office where he was killed.
ABI has not disclosed the amount but Santiago said in her complaint that the money was intended for a malaria immunization program in Luzon.
Tumala also received as evidence a photograph of a text message received by ABI chair Joseph Canlas. The message sent by an anonymous sender claimed that the police hired a gunman to kill Geertman. The sender named the mastermind of the alleged plot as a confidential informant of a lieutenant with the Army’s military intelligence bureau. The Army has neither confirmed nor denied this allegation.
Tumala ordered the police to respond to the complaint of Santiago that Geertman’s killing should be pursued as a murder case.
“[He] was a victim of extrajudicial killing because of his advocacy against mining, illegal logging and he was executive director of ABI, whose primary objective is relief distribution for victims of calamity and disaster preparedness,” said Santiago. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon