8 YEARS AFTER | Case nears resolution, but where is Palparan? - mothers of missing UP students

By: InterAksyon.com


Former general Jovito Palparan. FILE PHOTO

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA – The case against the military officials accused in the abduction and the continued disappearance of two University of the Philippines students nears resolution but the accused mastermind former General Jovito Palparan is still missing.

This was the concern of the mothers of missing UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan who attended the court hearing today at the Malolos Regional Trial Court, according to Desaparecidos Pilipinas, an organization of relatives of victims of involuntary disappearance.

“The case of kidnapping and serious illegal detention against Gen. Jovito Palparan et al nears its resolution, but the ‘butcher’ general is still at-large,” said Erlinda Cadapan, mother of Sherlyn.

After this hearing, the case, which also includes as respondents Col. Felipe Anotado, Staff Sgt. Edgar Osorio and M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario, is submitted for resolution.

This is the last time the court would allow the defense to present its witnesses. Since September 2013, the defense has been unable to bring to court any witness, resulting in many postponements of hearings.

“This should be the last time. We hope the defense will no longer be allowed to present witnesses. We are sick of the AFP’s lies and excuses. We appeal to the court not to fall for whatever lies they might have prepared today. The case should be submitted for resolution now,” said Concepcion Empeño, mother of Karen. AFP stands for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

A protest action was simultaneously held outside the Malolos RTC to call for justice for Karen and Sherlyn. Rights groups Desaparecidos, Hustisya, Selda, Karapatan, as well as students of the UP-Diliman and other people’s organizations joined the protest.

“All their maneuvers to delay court proceedings tell us only one thing, they do not have witnesses. They cannot counter the testimonies and evidences that they took our daughters and that the military tortured them,” Mrs. Cadapan said.

The mothers are positive that Anotado and Osorio, who are on trial, will be convicted. However, they said justice will not be complete because two of the accused, Hilario and Palparan, are still at large.

“Their conviction (Anotado and Osorio) will be partial victory. As long as the Aquino government coddles Palparan and continues to be unaccountable for all he and his men did to our daughters and to other desaparecidos, we will continue to call for vigilance and support,” said Empeño.

Eight years since disappearance

26 June 2006 was when Karen, Sherly,n and farmer Manuel Merino were abducted by Palparan’s men in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

“Palparan and his men cannot evade justice forever. It has been three years since we filed this case. For all these years, more have been abducted and disappeared. The Aquino government has done nothing to arrest Palparan. We vow to tirelessly seek justice along with other victims,” said Mrs. Cadapan.