Joint Press Statement

August 24, 2007

Reference:  Ruth Cervantes, Karapatan Public Information Officer (Mobile No. 09189790580)

Ghay Portajada, Desaparecidos National Coordinaor              (Mobile No. 09058234907)

Save the lives of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño! 

Surface them and other desaparecidos!

The families of victims of enforced disappearances under the banner of Desaparecidos and the human rights alliance Karapatan today welcomed the news that the Manalo brothers had escaped their military captors and tormentors.  We likewise share the hope of the Cadapan and Empeño families with the news that the Manalo brothers saw Sherlyn and Karen alive.

We laud Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo’s bravery in telling the world of the plight of other compatriots who have been abducted and held in ‘ghost prisons’ by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

They have corroborated the statement of other survivors like Oscar Leuterio and Lourdes Rubrico.  Their experience confirms our allegation that it is a policy of the AFP and the Macapagal-Arroyo government to kill and make people disappear.

The Supreme Court, with its pledge to give remedy to victims, must be able give protection to Manalo brothers who were victims of enforced disappearance.  They may be already free but they are still in danger.  The SC must likewise be able to dispense justice for victims and their families.

The question that is of paramount importance now is this – who will rescue Sherlyn, Karen and 60 other victims of enforced disappearance in Central Luzon and all the rest of the 183 missing persons all over the country?  They are still at the mercy of their captors.  They are experiencing torment and torture and their lives are in danger every minute of every day.

Who has the power to return them to their families? Who will assure us and all our citizens that none of us or our loved ones will ever be taken by force and made to disappear without a trace? Where is the rule of law?

The Commander-In-Chief Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo must be tasked to bring an end to the sufferings of relatives of hundreds of victims who continue to go through the pain of loss and uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.”

Open safe houses, military camps and pinpoint secret places of detention to determine the fate of victims of enforced disappearances!

Surface Sherlyn, Karen and all desaparecidos! ###

Statement in Word format

Film director Joel Lamangan recites

a poem by Joi Barrios- Leblanc

Edita, mother of Jonas Burgos;

Linda (right), mother of Shirley Cadapan

Officers of PAMALAKAYA, Karapatan and PCPR --

in the shadow of Andres Bonifacio

LITANYA NG PAGHAHANAP
(Para sa mga magulang nina Jonas, Karen at Sherlyn at sa pamilya nina Luisa at Nilo ng Panay)

Hinahanap ko
Siyang nawawala.

Pinagtatagpi ang mga ebidensiya,
Pinagdudugtong ang mga salaysay,
Idinudulog sa hukuman.

Hinahanap ko
Siyang nawawala.

Iwinawaksi ang masamang panaginip:
Ang maliit, madilim na silid,
Ang pagpapahirap at panaghoy
Ang karsel na walang pangalan at lunan.

Hinahanap ko
siyang nawawala.

Kahit di malaman ang simula’t
Hantungan ng paglalayag.
Makipagtawaran kaya sa kapalaran?
Ibalik niyo ang bugbog, laspag na katawan,
Mapaghihilom ang bawat sugat.
Isauli niyo ang baliw ang isipan
Mapanunumbalik ang katinuan.
Ibigay niyo sa akin ang pira-pirasong buto,
Ang gula-gulanit na laman,
At kahit pa, kahit pa,
ang bangkay na di na makilala.

At tatanggapin ng aking puso,
Siyang nawawala
Siyang hinahanap
Siyang minamahal.

Ngunit huwag,
Huwag akalaing ako’y nakikiusap,
Nagmamakaawa, o naninikluhod.
Ang dapat isakdal
Ay silang sa kanya’y dumukot,
Silang nilalaro ang batas sa kanilang palad,
Silang utak ng pandarahas.

Hinahanap ko
Siyang nawawala
At siyang nawawala
Ay naghahanap ng katarungan.

Katarungan!

Joi Barrios-Leblanc, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)

Above poem (Pilipino and English versions)

 in text format
 

■     Message of the NDFP on the International Day of the Disappeared

■     Stop enforced disappearances in the Philippines! Hold the US-Arroyo regime accountable for human rights atrocities!

■     Karapatan petition with the Supreme Court

■     Karapatan-SMR marks 'Day of Disappeared' with calls to end state-sponsored disappearances, terrorism

■     Statement of Karapatan-ST

■     Missing but not forgotten - Statement on the International Day of the Disappeared by yPhilippines-Canada Task Force on Human Rights (PCTFHR)

■     One year after, GMA continues to ignore Melo Commission findings

■     Open letter to President Arroyo from Bishop Carlito Cenzon, Bishop Marino Inong, and Dr. Constancio Claver and signed by many more

■     ISAFP tells daughter of abducted NDF consultant: ‘he’s on our list but we do not have him’

■     Save the lives of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño! Surface them and other desaparecidos!

■     On International Day of Disappeared: UP students demand for release of desap colleagues Karen and She

Chris Mendez was a 20-year student at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance. Last week he was brought to the Veterans hospital by unindentified persons, dead, and believed to be a victim of fraternity hazaing.

He was the brightest in the family, always an honor student since elementary, and with just one semester to go, he was to graduate this schoolyear. His family had hoped that he, being the elder of two children, would get them out of their poverty, and as TV footages show, he did promise that to his younger brother. But a most barbaric practice of fraternities cut short his life that was full of promise for his family and his country, never mind that the fratmen call the non-fratmen barbarians.

Here are video clips of TV7 reportage on his death and mobilizations by his fellow students wo seek justice.

■  Video clip #1             ■  Video clip #2             ■  Video clip#3

Press Statement

31 August 2007

Justice for Cris Mendez

The Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) joins the family, friends, and colleagues of UP student Cris Anthony Mendez in the pursuit for justice of his most unwanted death.

STAND UP, as the largest student alliance in UP Diliman, recognizes Cris’ contribution to his fellow iskolars ng bayan as an active College and University Student Council member.

His death is allegedly due to fraternity hazing, but decisive investigations should be accomplished by the police and the UP administration to bring light his case.

STAND UP, having 13 member-fraternities and sororities, pose a reminder to such brotherhoods of their progressive history and orientation, which commonly adhere to the service of the nation and of the people. Living up to these ideals will not only avert fraternities from the deeply embedded culture of violence, but will also mark their significant placement in society.

Fraternities, together with the rest of the studentry, should unite against the true killers and oppressors of their ranks. Amidst intensified state terrorism, fee increases and commercialization of education, issues which may have been actively fought by Cris, a unified and progressive student body is demanded to engage.

We call on all fraternities, students, faculty, and general public to extend greatest possible support for the immediate resolution and justice of Cris’ death, as well as its solemn and valuable remembrance.

Vanessa Faye Bolibol

STAND UP Chairperson

Contact info: 09217659517, coolcat_ipay@yahoo.com

Statement in Word format

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