Human Rights Advocate in Negros Oriental Shot Dead
A Human Rights Advocate in Manjuyod Negros Oriental was shot dead. In Dumaguete City, a daughter was shot dead by a father who is a police officer. Both shootings happened last Sunday, July 07, 2019. The motive for killing the human rights advocate is still unknown. The police’s daughter was shot due to a heated argument with her father.
Human Rights Advocate Shot Dead
The human rights advocate was identified as Romano Baldoza 43 years old who lived in Barangay Tupas of Manjuyod. He is an adviser for the Youth of the Iglesia Independiente Filipinas and former Negros Oriental coordinator of the human rights group Karapatan. According to the investigators, the slain victim was on his way home when he received multiple gunshots by two men in a motorcycle. He was brought to the hospital of the neighboring town of Bais City but was announced dead upon arrival. According to Karapatan, Romano’s death marked the 69th slain human right advocate to be killed in Negros Island under the administration of Philippine President Duterte.
Police investigators recovered one deformed slug and 4 empty shells of a caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene. Colonel Raul Tacaca, provincial police director, said the two suspects escaped to an unknown direction and that they are being pursued by authorities. Both motive and suspects are unknown, however, the investigation continues to bring justice to slain advocate.
Daughter Shot Dead by Police Father
In Barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City, a daughter was shot dead by her father who is a police officer. The 22 years old daughter was identified as April Mae Ege. She is a graduate with a degree of Business Administration last March 2019. Her father is Staff Sergeant Levi Ege, 54 years old, and is assigned at the Dumaguete City Police station.
According to the victim’s lover, Staff Sgt. Ege arrived at his daughter’s boarding house drunk and had a heated argument. Several witnesses came out and stated they saw the victim attempting to wrestle the gun away from her father. The daughter was shot dead by what the police call an “accidental firing”. A concerned citizen in the area phoned the police and the father was arrested immediately.
Dumaguete City Police Chief Greg Galsim said they believe the incident was a case of “accidental firing”. Police investigators found a 9mm pistol (the service firearm of the suspect), its magazine, four bullets, a deformed slug and a spent shell at the crime scene. The suspect is now under police custody. The police will file parricide and an administrative case against the suspect.
