I deeply appreciated the Inquirer’s July 11 editorial (“One of us”), which was fully dedicated to the life and death of my countryman and confrere Wilhelmus “Wim” Geertman. I myself feel a strong affinity to Wim. Like Wim, I came also to the Philippines as a Dutch Carmelite missionary more than 50 years ago.
The murder of Wim may have been an extrajudicial killing, as you call it, but I am confident that the present Aquino administration will make up for the failures of the past administration. The Oplan Bantay Laya is no longer in force, at least not here in Mindanao.
The Oplan Bayanihan wants to make peace with the insurgents and their sympathizers. Executive Order No. 79 has come up with new regulations and policies that may control the abusive mining and logging industries.
Wim has given his life in the service of the Filipino people. He truly is another Filipino martyr. I hope and pray that his death may not have been in vain.
—ARNOLD VAN VUGT,
PN Roa Subd., Calaanan,
Cagayan de Oro City