UUSC Expresses Concern about Killing of Water-District Union Leader in Philippines

UUSC expresses concern about the killing of Carlo "Caloy" Rodriguez, president of the workers' union of the Calamba Water District in the Philippines who was shot dead while on his way home by unidentified men on motorcycle on November 12, 2010.

According to a statement released by UUSC's ally Water for the Peoples Network and UUSC's partner Asia Pacific Research Network denouncing the killing, 41-year-old Rodriguez has been a strong supporter of the nationwide campaign against water privatization in the Philippines and has led efforts to correct the gross inequity in water access in the region.

UUSC expresses heartfelt condolences to the family of Rodriguez, the members of the worker's union of the Calamba Water District, and the members of the Water for the People Network for the loss of such a strong supporter of social justice and committed water-rights activist.

While the circumstances surrounding Rodriguez's death are not clear at the time of this statement, UUSC is concerned about his killing and calls on the government of the Philippines to carry out an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death — especially since Rodriguez is the third anti-water-privatization activist to be killed in the Philippines. A similar incident occurred in 2006 when Noel Noli Capulong, spokesperson of the Southern Tagalog Environmental Action Movement, was shot dead in Calamba City by motorcycle-riding assailants.