Palace tells militants: Show proof military harassed Geertman

Secretary Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Saturday criticized militant groups for accusing the military of subjecting the slain Dutch nongovernment organization worker Wilhelmus Geertman to harassment in the past.

Asked if the government would look into the military’s possible involvement in Geertman’s death following the allegations made by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and the human rights group Karapatan, Edwin Lacierda, President Aquino’s spokesman said: “It will be good for them if they can produce evidence.”

“And if there are evidence to support that then it will be investigated,” he added.

Lacierda then went on to criticize the groups for hurling accusations without immediately offering any evidence.

“One important thing is you just don’t throw mud at people. You have to really produce proof of that and let them come out. And if you’d tell [Interior] Secretary [Jesse] Robredo, … (he) will investigate all angles,” Lacierda said.

“That’s not a problem with this government as long as you can produce evidence. You just don’t accuse someone and allege something without basis, and if there is basis, then go ahead and inform the task force of the various alleged harassment activities against the Dutch worker,” he added.

Lacierda said the government would investigate “any and all angles if there are any proof to all and any of those accusations.”

“Their line has always been like that. They have always been linking the military and that’s why I’m telling them, ‘Look guys, it want to accuse the military, do so with evidence’,” Lacierda said.

“If you don’t, then don’t just keep on attacking the military,” he added.