MOTHERLAND IN CHAINS. A young activist dramatizes the hardships of women and the country during the 102nd International Women’s Day commemoration Friday in Davao City. Gabriela women’s group has called for justice for all victims of extrajudicial killings including Cristina Jose, one of the leaders of the movement of Pablo victims, who was killed March 4 in Baganga town, Davao Oriental. (davaotoday.com photo by Jandy Ken C. Lisondra)
“We condemn the killing of Cristina Jose and we continue to cry out for justice for all daughters of Southern Mindanao who became victims of extrajudicial killing,” said May Ann Sapar of women’s group Gabriela.
By IRENE V. DAGUDOG
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — She could be here today. But the bullet that pierced through her body that fateful March 4 evening ended a young life devoted to public service.
Cristina Jose, a village councilor, a daughter, a mother, a wife, and a leader, is now lying in coffin in the Pablo-ravaged Binondo village in Baganga town, Davao Oriental.
In a march rally here Friday, over a thousand have not only commemorated the 102nd day of the International Women’s Day. They demanded justice for Jose and for all other victims of extrajudicial killings and rights abuses.
“We condemn the killing of Cristina Jose and we continue to cry out for justice for all daughters of Southern Mindanao who became victims of extrajudicial killing,” said May Ann Sapar of women’s group Gabriela.
Less than a week before the celebration of women’s day, Jose was killed while Gabriela protesters in Manila on Thursday were violently dispersed and arrested by the police.
Cirila Anding, a leader of Barug Katawhan, a movement of Pablo victims in the Davao region, also scored the military for putting her under surveillance after the February 26-28 barricade of Pablo victims in Davao City.
“The government and the military don’t respect human rights,” she said as she added that Barug Katawhan leaders like her, including women members, were also subjected to harassments.
While she wanted to remain strong, she can’t deny that the surveillance affected her because it was what happened to Jose before her brutal death.
Jose was reportedly harassed by the military upon returning to her community from the barricade. Witnesses saw three motorcycle-riding men tailing them while driving along the Baganga bridge.
Anding who’s also chairwoman of the banana packing plant’s union, the Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa OsMiguel, an affiliate of the National Federation of Labor Unions and Kiliusang Mayo Uno, said she also experienced harassment from the government troops from 2008-2009 while working at Dole-Stanfilco’s Packing Plant 98.
“Women and human rights violations continue with impunity under Aquino. The Aquino government is vicious as it is murderous in its attack against women and people’s rights,” said GWP Representative Emmi De Jesus in a statement.
Human rights group Karapatan said that out of 138 cases of EJKs under Aquino, 18 were women and four were minors. It added that there are currently 33 women political prisoners under Aquino.
“President Aquino’s culpability in the worsening human rights situation in the Philippines is undeniable and we hold him responsible for the killings, tortures and arrests,” said GWP Representative Luz Ilagan.
Meanwhile, Sapar called for the immediate pullout of troops in communities and a stop to the militarization in Pablo-affected areas. (Irene V. Dagudog/davaotoday.com)
