Political Bloodbath Continues: Widow of Slain Activist Shot Dead

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat

MANILA — At the end of the International Women’s Month, another woman, a widow of a slain activist, became a victim of politically motivated killings.

Edelina Jolloso-Jerus, 37, was shot dead yesterday in front of her two children aged ten and eight inside their house in San Juan, Sorsogon City, Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Human Rights) reported.

Based on accounts by Karapatan, at around 10:30 a.m. yesterday, two men on board a motorcycle arrived and knocked at Jerus’ house. When the victim opened the door, the men immediately shot Jerus. She sustained four gunshot wounds.

Evangeline Hernandez, spokesperson of Hustisya!, denounces the killing of Edelina Jolloso-Jerus during a picket in front of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) compound in Quezon City this morning. (Photo by Ayi Muallam)

Jerus’ husband Willy was also killed by suspected state agents on April 16, 2007. Willy, Willy, a peasant leader and organizer of Samahang Magsasaka ng Sorsogon (SAMASOR), was killed in the same manner that Edelina was shot dead.

Hustisya!, an organization of families of victims of extrajudicial killings, held a picket today in front of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) compound in Quezon City to condemn the killing of Jerus.

Jerus was an active member of Hustisya! in Bicol.

Evangeline Hernandez, Hustisya! spokesperson, said, “We condemn in the strongest terms the brutal death of Edelina. She is a mother who sought justice for the killing of her husband but suffered the same fate as he did.”

Hernandez blamed the counter-insurgency program of the government, Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Freedom Watch) for the new surge in killings.

According to Karapatan, Jerus is the third woman victim killed in the month of March

On March 4, Rebelyn Pitao, 20, a teacher at St. Peter’s College and daughter of Leoncio Pitao, an NPA commander known as Commander Parago, was abducted by four armed men at 6:30 p.m. at the crossing of Bago Gallera de Oro Subdivision, Bago Gallera, Tolomo, Davao City. She was found dead floating on a river the next day.

On March 23, Sabina Ariola, was hit by a lone gunman in the abdomen, at around 8:25 a.mat Bgy. Pook, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. She died at around 11 p.m. while undergoing treatment.

Jerus is the 17th victim of extrajudicial killings for the first quarter of the year, Karapatan said.

Antonio Flores, convenor of Tanggol Magsasaka (Defend Peasants), called on the Commission on Human Rights Chair Leila De Lima, House Human Rights Committee Chair Rep. Erin Tañada, Senate Human Rights Committee Chair Sen. Chiz Escudero to look into the latest spate of killings. (Bulatlat.com)