Justice for murdered Tondo community leader

We condemn the brutal killing of Marilou Valle on July 22, 2012 by suspects who are barangay tanod in Sitio Damayan, Smokey Mountain, Tondo. Marilou was a well-loved leader who gave her services to community members and stood against the unjust demolition of shelters in their area. It appears that her killing is related to this issue.

She was our community assistant in a six-country research aimed to develop alternative indices for measuring poverty genuinely reflecting gender inequity. She did this as a volunteer and her help was very valuable to the success of our research.

We call on Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Mayor Alfredo Lim and Commission on Human Rights Chair Etta Rosales to act quickly to protect the family of Marilou and her coworkers from the terror that grips Sitio Damayan now, and to ensure swift and adequate justice for her. We will follow the developments on this case closely. Our colleagues in the international team from different countries are also sending letters to Secretary Robredo, Secretary De Lima, Chair Rosales and Mayor Lim for swift and decisive action.

—FATIMA ALVAREZ CASTILLO,

CORA ANONUEVO, ERLINDA C. PALAGANAS,

NIMFA BRACAMONTE

c/o College of Arts and Sciences,

University of the Philippines Manila,

Padre Faura Street, Manila