MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / June 23, 2014) – Mothers of missing UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan still cry for justice as they attended Monday a court hearing in Bulacan province against those accused in the disappearance of the two young women.
Linda Cadapan said the case of kidnapping and serious illegal detention against former army General Jovito Palparan and other soldiers nears its resolution, but they remain at-large.
Included in the charges were Colonel Felipe Anotado, Staff Sergeant Edgar Osorio and Master Sergeant Rizal Hilario. Since September 2013, the defense was unable to bring to the court any witnesses which resulted to several postponements of court hearings.
The case has been submitted for resolution.
“This should be the last time. We hope the defense will no longer be allowed to present witnesses. We are sick of the Armed Forces’ 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.
A protest action was simultaneously held outside the court house in Malolos town and among the human rights groups that joined the protests were Desaparecidos, Hustisya, Selda, Karapatan, as well as students of the University of the Philippines-Diliman and other people’s organizations.
“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,” Cadapan said.
“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,” Empeño said.
The two students along with farmer Manuel Merino were allegedly abducted by Palparan’s men in Hagonoy town in Bulacan province in June 2006.
“Palparan and his men cannot evade justice forever. It has been three years since we filed this case. For all these years, more were abducted and disappeared. The Aquino government has done nothing to arrest Palparan. We attest that we shall tirelessly seek justice, along with other victims,” Cadapan said.
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