MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 23, 2011) – The End Impunity Alliance has on Friday called on Facebook users to help seek justice for the families of two university students abducted and possibly killed by government soldiers in the Philippines.
The organization, a network of victims of human rights violations, human rights defenders and civil libertarians, urged so-called “netizens” to post a photograph of former military general Jovito Palparan and Master Sergeant Rizal Hilario in their Facebook account.
Palparan was accused as behind the abductions of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno and has been in hiding after a foiled attempt to escape to Singapore.
A human right group called Karapatan also released a “Wanted: Palparan” poster for Facebook users so they use it as their picture profile.
“The internet is venue for supporting many causes including this very important quest for justice of the mothers of the two disappeared University of the Philippines students. All netizens are enjoined to post this poster on their profiles to make known to internet users the face and name of this notorious human rights violator and seek information on his whereabouts to cause his immediate arrest,” Cristina Palabay, convener of End Impunity Alliance, said in a statement to the Mindanao Examiner.
She said the call for “People’s Manhunt” was issued by the mothers on Wednesday after arrest warrants were issued by Branch 14 of the Malolos City Regional Trial Court in Bulacan. The warrants came after the Department of Justice found probable cause on the charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention filed by Erlinda Cadapan and Concepcion Empeno, the victims’ mothers.
On December 19, Palparan was not allowed to take the flight from Clark International Airport to Singapore. The Bureau of Immigration likewise issued a hold departure order for Palparan and his cohorts. Two of Palparan’s co-accused, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio have surrendered to authorities, while Palparan and Hilario remain at large.
In using the poster in their profiles, netizens are also requested to post this short note: “Support the call of Sherlyn and Karen’s mothers for a PEOPLE’S MANHUNT for Palparan! JAIL PALPARAN! JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS! Use this profile picture to spread the word about the need to arrest one of the most notorious human rights violators.”
“Three days after the warrants of arrest against Palparan et al, he has evaded accountability by trying to leave the country and by being a fugitive. We call on the public to help the victims’ mothers by giving information which is not only an exercise of vigilance and compassion, but an act, however small it may be, in making perpetrators pay for their high crimes against the victims and the Filipino people. Ending impunity in the country, when state institutions have been remiss in pursuing justice and accountability, rests on the people’s advocacy and struggle for genuine democracy and freedom,” Palabay said.
20