Tacloban City—An activist leader and supporter of a former priest running as governor in Northern Samar province was shot dead early morning Friday in Palapag town.
Emil Go, 44, has been a known convenor in the province for militant group Bayan and human rights organization Katungod since 1999.
Aside from being a government employee, Go was also an active supporter of the candidacy of Monsignor Walter Cerbito, the resigned vicar general of the Diocese of Catarman, who is now running as independent gubernatorial candidate in the province for the May 9 elections.
“We condemn this latest extrajudicial killing. Local human rights groups are now looking into the motives for the murder of one of our activist leaders,” said Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan national secretary-general.
Cerbito’s campaign also said it strongly condemned the brutal killing of Go.
In an interview, Cerbito’s camp movement said “the fight of the people of Northern Samar will continue, as always” despite the murder of one of its known supporters.
According to the group, the priest continues to hold house-to-house visit in every village in the 24 towns of the province.
A post-mortem from the Rural Health Unit of Palapag said Go suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the head, abdomen and upper extremities.
Police are still investigating the incident.