NDFP condemns the brutal killing of a lumad mother and wounding of her eight-year-old daughter

Reference: Coni Ledesma
NDFP Special office for the Protection of Children (SOPC)
1 June 2018

The Special Office for the Protection of Children of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines strongly condemns the brutal killing of Beverly Germonimo, a Lumad woman and the wounding of her eight-year-old daughter. The two were shot at by suspected members of the Philippine Army, on May 26 in Salvacion village, Trento, Agusan del Sur.

Beverly Geronimo, 27, was an active member of the peasant organization Tabing Guangan Farmers Association. She and her daughter, along with two other relatives were onboard a motorcycle around noontime of May 26. They were on their way home after buying school supplies, when two armed men in plainclothes stopped them and fired at them. Beverly sustained seven gunshot wounds, resulting in her instantaneous death. Her daughter, on the other hand, who is a student of an alternative tribal school in their community, was shot in her arm.

The killing of Beverly Germonimo and wounding of her daughter adds to the growing number of women and children who have either been killed, threatened, wounded or traumatized by members of the Philippine Army.

The Monitoring Committee of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines continues to monitor these violations of human rights.

This harrowing incident also comes at a time when the Filipino people are demanding the lifting of the martial law rule in Mindanao as it has gravely resulted in numerous fascist attacks to silence those who have been struggling for the right to self-determination, genuine land reform and delivery of basic social services.

This is also an affront to the commitment of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) to uphold the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

The Special Office for the Protection of Children of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines demands a full investigation on the killing of Beverly Geronimo and wounding of her eight year old daughter and demands that the necessary medical treatment be given her daughter.