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Date: 04 March 2013
Source: http://pinoyweekly.org/new/2013/03/typhoon-pablo-survivor-1st-woman-activist-killed-this-year/

Two days before International Women’s Day, human rights group Karapatan denounced the killing of Cristina Jose, a survivor of Typhoon Pablo and leader of a recent protest action in Davao City, which confiscated relief goods being withheld by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Carrying photos of women and children victims, members of Karapatan trooped to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to demand an immediate investigation by DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima, which has been tasked to head President Aquino’s “superbody” on extra-judicial killing (EJKs).

“Despite creating such a superbody, the president is silent on this latest EJK, which has appalled many Filipinos who watched how Pablo survivors bravely stood up for their rights last week…(But it seems that) when people demand for food, they get killed,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary-general.

Jose is the first reported EJK of a woman activist this year, but already the 18th since Aquino assumed office, according to Karapatan, which has recorded more than 100 EJKs under the Aquino administration.

18 women, including minors, have been killed under the Aquino administration, according to Karapatan. (Ilang-Ilang Quijano)

Jose was killed last March 4 in Brgy. Binondo, Bagangga, Davao Oriental by suspected members of the military. A village councilor, Jose just left a village meeting when three men aboard a motorcycle shot her from the back, with the bullet exiting through her right breast. She had planned to go to Davao City to complain of the DSWD’s alleged blacklisting from relief operations of typhoon survivors who participated in the protest action last week.

According to Karapatan, members of the 67th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) deployed in Bagangga had labeled Jose “kagawad ng mga NPA” (the New People’s Army’s councilor) and had threatened her life before.

Prior to the killing, Jose had assisted the local human rights group in documenting alleged food blockade and harassment of civilians by soldiers conducting military operations. Survivors also reported the sighting of American troops in the area since the typhoon struck last December.

Palabay said that Pablo survivors are victims of the government’s “pro-foreign business policy,” neglect, and incompetence. “It (Aquino administration) has opened up our country’s resources to big foreign businesses, such as mining and agribusiness, that made poor communities vulnerable to disasters,” she said.

“It seems that the government would not stop until those who are opposed to his anti-people acts are dead,” Palabay added.

Meanwhile, women’s group Gabriela also condemned the killing of Jose. “The circumstances surrounding her murder is suggestive of the ways gunmen kill citizens who have been branded as enemies of the state for criticizing corrupt, unjust and inhumane government programs and policies,” the group said in a statement.