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Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

NATIONAL PROSECUTION SERVICE

Manila

ERLINDA T. CADAPAN and CONCEPCION E. EMPEÑO,

                                 Complainants,

            -versus-                                                          NPS NO. __________________

M/GEN. JOVITO PALPARAN JR.(RET.),

LT. COL. ROGELIO BOAC, LT. COL. FELIPE ANOTADO, 2LT. FRANCIS MIRABELLE SAMSON, ARNEL ENRIQUEZ, M/SGT. DONALD CAIGAS, M/SGT. RIZAL HILARIO, “MICKEY DOE”, “DONALD DOE”, “BILLY DOE”, and several “JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”,

                                    Respondents.

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JOINT COMPLAINT AFFIDAVIT

            WE, ERLINDA T. CADAPAN, of legal age, married, and a resident of Los Baños, Laguna and CONCEPCION E. EMPEÑO, of legal age, married, and a resident of Masinloc, Zambales, after being duly sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that:

1. We are the mothers of Sherlyn T. Cadapan (SHERLYN) and Karen E. Empeño (KAREN), respectively.

2. SHERLYN is an award-winning tri-athlete and is a  senior  Bachelor of Sport Science student from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, College of Human Kinetics and was doing volunteer research for farmers in Central Luzon. She was formerly her college’s representative to the University Student Council.

3. KAREN is a senior BA Sociology student of the UP Diliman, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, and was doing research on the plight of farmers in Bulacan for her thesis.

4. On June 26, 2006 at around 2:00 a.m., SHERLYN and KAREN, who were then staying at the house of one Raquel Halili in Barangay San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan, were forcibly taken, blindfolded and their hands tied, by armed men wearing bonnets.

5. Manuel Merino, a farmer who was then staying at the adjacent house owned by one William Ramos, came out to help SHERLYN and KAREN. But he was hit with a gun in the stomach downing him on his knees, tied up, blindfolded and also taken by the same armed men.

6. These armed men were later identified as elements of the Philippine Army based in the Headquarters of the 56^th Infantry Battalion, Barangay Iba, Hagonoy, Bulacan, under the command of then M/Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., and Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac.

7. SHERLYN, KAREN, and Manuel Merino were led into and forcibly made to board a private stainless Jeep with Plate No. RTF 579, which sped towards Barangay Iba, Hagonoy, Bulacan.

8. The foregoing incident was witnessed by William Ramos, owner of the house where Merino was then staying, and his son Wilfredo Ramos. They were also made to lie face down with their hands tied. Copy of the Pinagsamang Sinumpaang Salaysay of William Ramos and Wilfredo Ramos is hereto attached and marked as Annex “A”.

9. When news of the abduction of SHERLYN, KAREN and Manuel Merino came out, the human rights group KARAPATAN, Bulacan Chapter, immediately launched a quick reaction team, composed of Alyansa ng Mamamayan Para sa Pantaong Karapatan (ALMMA) members and volunteer staff of Barangay Human Rights Action Center headed by Mildred Benitez, to look for the three abducted persons.

10. Mildred Benitez and her group went to the 56^th Infantry Batallion Headquarters at Iba, Hagonoy, Bulacan. They were not allowed entry into the camp but there they saw parked inside the camp  a private stainless Jeep with Plate No. RTF 579. Copy of the Sinumpaang Salaysay of Mildred Benitez is hereto attached and marked as Annex “B”.

11. Also stated in her Sinumpaang Salaysay, Mildred Benitez saw on July 4, 2006 an interview of Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. on the ANC news regarding the case of SHERLYN, KAREN and Manuel Merino. In the said interview, Maj. Gen. Palparan said that SHERLYN and the others are members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and he misrepresented that they have been out of UP for ten years. He also said that they already let go of the two men but are keeping the women because they are members of the NPA collecting taxes in Hagonoy. Thus-

“16. Hulyo 4, 2006, napanood ko sa ANC, ang interview kay Maj. General Jovito Palparan tungkol sa kaso nila Sherlyn, Karen at Manuel. Sinabi niya na sila Sherlyn ay mga kasapi ng New People’s Army (NPA) at sampung taon na silang hindi nag-aaral sa UP. Sinabi pa nito na pinalaya na nila ang dalawang lalaki ngunit ang dalawang babae ay hindi dahil sila ay mga NPA na ngongolekta ng buwis sa Hagonoy. May isang reporter na nagtanong na “ibig po bang sabihin ay nasa inyo ang dalawang studyante?” Hindi na narinig ang sagot ni Palparan dahil pinutol na ang segment ng report;” (Paragraph 16, Sinumpaang Salaysay of Mildred Benitez, Annex “B”).

12. On June 28, 2006 at around 10:00 p.m., Alberto Ramirez, a resident of Purok 1, Barangay Sagrada Familia, Hagonoy, Bulacan and a member of the Barangay Human Rights Action Committee of Barangay Sagrada Familia, was awakened by loud shouts from Manuel Merino, who was abducted together with SHERLYN and KAREN on June 26, 2006 at San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan. Manuel Merino was accompanied by several armed men wearing bonnets. Alberto Ramirez was forced out of his house and made to board the private stainless Jeep with Plate No. RTF 579.

13. Alberto Ramirez was brought inside a military detachment located at the upper space of a building, the ground floor of which is occupied by the Barangay, at Mercado, Hagonoy, Bulacan, under the command of 2Lt. Francis Mirabelle Samson.

14. Inside the detachment, Alberto Ramirez was interrogated by a man who introduced himself as Arnel Enriquez. Alberto Ramirez was asked by Arnel Enriquez if he knew the persons known as “Ka Tanya”, “Ka Lisa”, “Ka Sierra” and “Ka Vincent”. Arnel Enriquez even described SHERLYN who according to him is known as “Ka Tanya” and “Ka Lisa”, and KAREN who is known as “Ka Sierra”, and the description fitted SHERLYN and KAREN. Copy of the Sinumpaang Salaysay of Alberto Ramirez is hereto attached and marked as Annex “C”.

15. Likewise, Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. was interviewed in the program “DEBATE WITH MARE AT PARE” hosted by Winnie Monsod and Oscar Orbos aired over TV Station Channel 7 on August 3, 2006. In the said interview, when asked about the two missing UP students, Maj. Gen. Palparan said that he heard about the three missing persons in Hagonoy, Bulacan, but they were real NPAs, who have dominated the area for more than 5 years, terrorizing, collecting from the fish pond owners, organizing the people and resorting to violence. Maj. Gen. Palparan said that they were named “Ka Tanya” and “Ka Lisa”, but did not get the name of the man. Copy of the Transcription of Segment 2 of the Program “DEBATE” dated August 3, 2006 is hereto attached and marked as Annex “D”.

16. Earlier, on April 17, 2006, Oscar Leuterio, a resident of Sitio Parungao, Barangay Sapang Bulak, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, was abducted by armed men, who brought him to Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan and then to Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, headquarters of the 7^th Infantry Division under the command of Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., where he was detained and tortured for five (5) months. During his detention, Oscar Leuterio saw two (2) women fitting the description of SHERLYN and KAREN. He also heard a man being tortured and thereafter brought to his detention area. He recognized this man tortured as “Em-Em”, the nickname of his “kumpare” Manuel Merino. Copy of the Sinumpaang Salaysay of Oscar Leuterio is hereto attached and marked as Annex “E”.

17. Immediately after the abduction of SHERLYN, KAREN and Manuel Merino, we filed a Petition for Habeas Corpus in their behalf on July 13, 2006 against M/Gen. Romeo Tolentino, M/Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., et. al. before the Supreme Court docketed as G.R. No. 173288.

18. The Supreme Court issued the writ of habeas corpus and referred the case to the Court of Appeals for appropriate proceedings docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 95303.

19. In their Return of the Writ, all the respondents denied having custody of the victims and even denied having knowledge of their abduction.

20. During the habeas corpus proceedings before the Court of Appeals, we presented the Affidavits and testimonies of Wilfredo Ramos and William Ramos (Annex “A”), Mildred Benitez (Annex “B”), Alberto Ramirez (Annex “C”), and Oscar Leuterio (Annex “E”).

21. I, Erlinda T. Cadapan, testified before the Court of Appeals that several days after the abduction of SHERLYN, I received a blank text from the mobile phone number belonging to SHERLYN. When I called the number, a male voice answered and then the phone was cut off.  

22. After due proceedings, the Court of Appeals issued a Decision on March 29, 2007 dismissing the petition on the ground that there was no indubitable evidence that Sherlyn Cadapan, Karen Empeño and Manuel Merino were in actual custody of the respondents.

23. We filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the foregoing Decision of the Court of Appeals and thereafter filed a Petition for a Writ of Amparo in favor of SHERLYN, KAREN and Manuel Merino before the Supreme Court docketed as G.R. No. 179994.

24. The Supreme Court referred the Petition for a Writ of Amparo to the Court of Appeals docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 00002, and ordered its consolidation with the Habeas Corpus proceedings.

25. In the joint hearings of the Habeas Corpus case and the Amparo case, we presented the testimonies of Raymond Manalo, Adoracion Paulino and Lovella de Castro.

26. In his Sinumpaang Salaysay Para Sa Hukuman, Raymond Manalo recalled his abduction on February 14, 2006 by six armed men wearing white t-shirts, fatigue pants and army boots, from their place in Barangay Buhol na Mangga, San Ildefonso, Bulacan. From there, he and his brother, Reynaldo Manalo, were constantly moved and detained in several places particularly military camps and detachments including Fort Magsaysay; a detachment in Pinaud, San Ildefonso, Bulacan; another detachment in Sapang, San Miguel, Bulacan, where they met Gen. Palparan; Camp Tecson under the 24^th Infantry Battalion; an unnamed camp of the 24^th Infantry Battalion in Limay, Bataan; a safehouse near the shoreline in Iba, Zambales; and then in Bolinao, Pangasinan, from where they escaped. Copy of the Sinumpaang Salaysay Para Sa Hukuman of Raymond Manalo with its Annexes is hereto attached and marked as Annex “F”.

27. Raymond Manalo further stated and testified that inside the barracks in Camp Tecson, he met another detainee, Sherlyn Cadapan, who introduced herself as a UP student. Later he also came to know Karen Empeño and Manuel Merino. As detainees, they were all interrogated, tortured and ordered to do menial jobs like cleaning, cooking, washing and raising livestock. The last time he saw Manuel Merino, he was being put on fire. The pertinent parts of the Sinumpaang Salaysay Para Sa Hukuman of Raymond Manalo regarding SHERLYN and KAREN read:

“39. Ano ang sumunod na nangyari?

            Kinabukasan, iba na ang mga nagtatanong sa akin, tila mas mataas na opisyal, dahil sila’y sinasaluduhan ng mga sundalong nambugbog sa amin, tinatawag silang “sir” at magalang ang pagtrato sa kanila ng mga bantay namin. Sa mga sumunod na araw, iba’t-ibang opisyal ang nagtatanong sa akin. Pagdating ng mga opisyal, nilalagyan ako ng piring, ngunit nakita ko rin ang mga mukha ng mga opisyal pagdating nila bago ako piniringan. Iba ang uniporme ng mga opisyal sa regular na uniporme ng mga sundalo. Yung isa sa nakita ko ay matingkad ang uniporme, kulay asul. Makikilala ko sila kung makikita ko silang muli. Isa sa kanila ay matangkad, nakakurbata, nakasuot ng puting pantalon, payat, nakasuot ng balat na sapatos hindi kombat na botas, nagsalita sa Tagalog at alam ang lahat tungkol sa kasong habeas corpus, may inpormasyon tungkol sa aking mga magulang at pamilya. Siya ang kasama ni General Palparan nang kausapin kami ni General Palparan. Siya rin ang sumundo sa 2 UP student mula sa Camp Tecson; sinabi niya na dadalhin niya ang mga UP student kay Gen. Palparan. Binalik ang 2 UP student pagkalipas ng 2 o 3 araw sa aming kinalalagyan.   

X x x                                       x x x                            x x x.

59. Saan ka dinala mula sa Sapang?

            Pagkalipas ng humigit kumulang 3 buwan sa Sapang, dinala ako sa Camp Tecson sa ilalim ng 24^th IB.

            May dumating na 3 lalaki sakay ng isang sasakyan. Sinabihan ako na sumama sa kanila dahil dadalhin ako sa malayong lugar. Hindi sila nagpakilala. Isinakay ako sa bago at puting kotse na medyo malaki. Sumama din si Efren. Piniringan ako.

             Pagkalipas ng humigit kumulang 30 minutos na paglalakbay, tinanggal ang piring, nilagyan ako ng kadena at ikinulong ako sa isang barracks.

            Kinabukasan, tinanggal ang mga kadena, at inutusan akong maglinis sa labas ng barracks. Doon ko nalaman na ito pala ay detachment ng mga ranger; maraming mga sundalo doon, daan-daan ang nag-training.

            Sa loob ng barracks ko nakilala si Sherlyn Cadapan, isang estudyante ng UP.

            Ipinalinis din sa akin ang loob ng barracks. Sa isang kwarto sa loob ng barracks, may nakita akong babaeng nakakadena. Noong una, pinagbawalan akong makipag-usap sa kanya. Sa ikatlo o ikaapat na araw, nakausap ko yung babaeng nagngangalang Sherlyn. Binigyan ko siya ng pagkain. Sinabi niya sa akin na dinukot siya sa Hagonoy, Bulacan at matindi ang tortyur na dinaranas niya. Sinabi niya gusto na niyang umuwi at makasama ang kanyang magulang. Umiiyak siya. Sabi niya sa akin ang buong pangalan niya ay Sherlyn Cadapan, mula sa Laguna. Sa araw tinatanggal ang kanyang kadena at inuutusan si Sherlyn na maglaba.

60. Kailan mo muling nakita ang kapatid mong si Reynaldo?

            Pagkalipas ng isang linggo. Dinala si Reynaldo sa Camp Tecson.

61. Sino ang mga nakita mo sa Camp Tecson?

            Dito sa Camp Tecson namin nakilala si “Allan Alvin” (maya-maya nalaman namin na siya pala si Donald Caigas), ng 24^th IB, na tinatawag na “master” o “commander” ng kanyang mga tauhan.

            Pagkalipas ng 2 araw matapos dalhin si Reynaldo sa Camp Tecson dumating sina Karen Empeno at Manuel Merino na mga bihag din. Inilagay si Karen at Manuel sa kwarto ni “Allan”. Kami naman ni Reynaldo ay nasa katabing kwarto, kasama si Sherlyn.

            Paminsan-minsan, binabantaan kami ni Reynaldo. Minsan, binugbog si Reynaldo.

62. Anong ginawa sa inyong mga bihag noong kayo ay nasa Camp Tecson?

            Kaming mga lalaki (ako, si Reynaldo at si Manuel ay ginawang utusan, habang sina Sherlyn at Karen ay ginawang labandera.

            Si Sherlyn ang pinahirapan nina Mickey, Donald at Billy. Sabi ni Sherlyn sa akin na siya’y ginahasa.

            Sa araw, hindi kami naka-kadena ngunit sa gabi (liban kay Reynaldo), kami ay naka-kadena. Kami ay binantaan na kapag kami ay tumakas, uubusin ang pamilya namin.

            Humigit-kumulang ika-6 ng Oktubre 2006, dumating si Rizal Hilario. Sinabi sa amin ni Hilario na dapat magpasalamat kami na kami ay buhay, at dapat daw naming ituloy ang aming pagbabagong-buhay.

            Habang kami ay nasa Camp Tecson, dinala kami ni Reynaldo sa aming mga magulang bago nag-hearing noong ika-6 o ika-8 ng Nobyembre para sabihin sa kanila na huwag silang dumalo sa hearing. Ngunit pagdating namin sa bahay ng aming magulang, sila’y lumuwas na sa Maynila. Binalik kami sa Tecson.

Nanatili kami sa Tecson mula Setyembre hanggang ika-22 ng Nobyembre 2006. Habang nasa Tecson kami, sinabi sa akin ni Donald na dapat ko pa rin gamitin ang pangalang “Oscar”, na ang sasabihin ko ay na ako ay military trainee.

63. Sino-sino ang mga nakilala mo habang kayo’y nasa Camp Tecson?

            Sa Camp Tecson nakilala ko ang mga sundalong taga 24^th IB: hindi ako sigurado kung tama ang pagkaispelling ko ng kanilang mga pangalan:

            Si Master Donald Caigas – may asawa, si Elsie Caigas, taga Malabon, Navotas, may tattoo sa balikat, 24^th IB ang nakatato sa balikat niya.

            X x x               x x x                x x x

                        Billy – maitim, bungi, pinakamataba sa kanila, pandak

                        X x x               x x x                x x x

                        Mickie – pandak na mataba, maputi

                        X x x               x x x                x x x

64. Mula sa Camp Tecson, dinala pa ba kayong mga bihag sa ibang lugar?

           Opo. Noong ika-22 ng Nobyembre 2006 dinala kami sa isang kampo ng 24^th Infantry Battalion sa Limay, Bataan. Doon kami nanatili hanggang ika-8 ng Mayo 2007.

           Kaming lima (ako, si Reynaldo, si Sherlyn, si Karen at si Manuel) ang dinala sa Limay. Sinakay ako, si Reynaldo, si Sherlyn, at si Manuel sa isang stainless na jeep. Si Karen ay isinakay sa itim na sasakyan ni Donald Caigas. Sumama din sina Donald, Butch (ang driver ni Hilario), Micky, Mar at puting van ni Naknak. May 2 motorsiklo pang kasama.

           Ang kampo sa Limay ay maraming mga kubo.

           Sa Limay nakatikim ako ng bugbog nina Mar at Billy, Pinalo ng baril sa aking sikmura.

           Nakita kong pinahirapan sina Karen at Sherlyn sa iba’t-ibang paraan. Ganito ang pangyayari:

           Sinabi ni Sherlyn sa mga sundalo na mayroon siyang baril na tinatago sa bahay ng biyenan niya sa Calumpit, Bulacan. Dinala siya doon ng mga sundalo, nguni’t wala siyang nakuhang baril. Nag-iwan siya ng sulat para sa kaniyang biyenan nguni’t nakita ito ng mga sundalo at kinuha nila ang sulat.

           Noong ibinalik si Sherlyn nakita ko si Sherlyn na itinali sa bangko, itinaas ang kanyang mga paa. Binuhusan siya ng tubig sa kanyang ilong; kinuryente siya. Sumisigaw siya. Matagal-tagal siyang pinahirapan. Halos 1 drum ng tubig ang ibinuhos sa kanya. Nang sinabi ni Sherlyn na tinulungan siya ni Karen para ihulog ang sulat, inilabas si Karen at pinahirapan din. Hindi ko nakita ang ginawa kay Karen; narinig ko lang ang mga sigaw niya. Kinabukasan, inuyam sila sa ginawang pananakit, ipinaalala sa kanila ang ginawang paghipo sa kanilang ari at pagpasok ng kahoy sa kanilang ari.

65. Ano pa ang ginawa sa inyo sa Limay, Bataan?

           Kami ay ginawang utusan, tagalinis at tagaluto, taga-alaga ng hayop at taga-bantay ng uling na kinukuha ng mga sundalo sa checkpoint.

           Tuwing may operasyon ang mga sundalo, pinag-uusapan nila ito sa harap namin. Anuman ang mananakaw ng mga military sa operasyon, tulad ng hayop, pagkain o anuman, ay ipapakatay at ipaluluto sa amin.

           Paglunsad ng Operation Lubog, isinasama kami ni Manuel – lahat ng maka-NPA ay kukunin at papatayin. Dinala kami sa Bgy. Bayan-bayanan, Bataan at doon, nakita kong pinatay ang isang matandang lalaking nagkakaingin lamang, si Mang Erning. Siya raw ay pinatay dahil may anak siyang lalaki na NPA. Pinatay siya sa gubat na pinagkakainginan niya; ginamit ang matalas na kahoy at tinaga ang leeg at ulo. Tinapon ang bangkay sa bangin sa likod ng manggahan.

           Si Donald Caigas ang nagdala sa amin doon. Kasama rin sina Sadsad, Amor, Prancisko, Robin, Edwin, Butch, Platino, Albert Caigas, Jay Caigas, Alan, Kim, Mar, Billy, Mean, at Mickey.

           Ibinalik kami sa kampo sa Limay. Pagkalipas ng ilang linggo, nagkaroon na naman ng panibagong Operation Lubog. Isinama ako sa Barangay Orion sa bahay na tinutuluyan daw ng NPA. Pagdating doon nakita nilang matanda at may sakit ang tatay kaya ang anak lang ang pinatay nila. Dinukot ang anak sa manukan, dinala sa tabing ilog, at binaril sa ulo ng 3 beses ni Donald Caigas sa harap ko.

66. Saan pa kayo dinala mula sa Limay, Bataan?

           Mula sa Limay, kaming 5 (ako, si Reynaldo, si Sherlyn, si Karen at si Manuel) ay dinala sa isang safehouse sa Zambales, tabi ng dagat. Isinakay kami sa itim na sasakyan ni Donald; may kasama ding jeep. Kasama sina Donald, at mga tauhan niya liban kay Efren. Naiwan din sina Donald sa safehouse. Ginamit kami bilang utusan, tulad ng kami ay nasa Limay.

           Naiwan kami sa Zambales mula ika-8 o ika-9 ng Mayo hanggang Hunyo 2007. Ang katiwala sa safehouse ay retired na sundalo ng army, matangkad at payat.

67. Anong nangyari noong Hunyo 2007?

           Sa buwan ng Hunyo, ibinalik kami sa kampo sa Limay. Si Donald ang nagdala sa amin.

           Dito nakita ko ang mga sumusunod:

           Ako, si Reynaldo at si Manuel ang nagdadala ng pagkain sa iba’t-ibang bihag na dinadala sa kampo.

           Isang gabi, sinabihan kami ni Donald na matulog na kami. Nakita ko si Donald na inaayos ang kanyang baril, at nilagyan ng silenser. Sabi ni Donald na kung mayroon man kaming makita o marinig, walang nangyari. Kinaumagahan, nakita namin ang bangkay ng isa sa mga bihag na dinala sa kampo. Mayroong ibinuhos sa kanyang katawan at ito’y sinunog. Masangsang ang amoy.

           Makaraan ang isang lingo, dalawang bangkay ang ibinaba ng mga unipormadong sundalo mula sa 6 x 6 na trak at dinala sa loob ng kampo. May naiwang mga bakas ng dugo habang hinihila nila ang mga bangkay. Naamoy ko iyon nang nililinis ang bakas.

           Makalipas ang isa o dalawang linggo, may dinukot sila na dalawang Ita. Itinali sila sa labas ng isang kubo, piniringan, ikinadena at labis na binugbog. Nakita kong nakatakas ang isa sa kanila at binaril siya ng sundalo ngunit hindi siya tinamaan. Iyong gabi nakita kong pinatay nila yong isang Ita malapit sa Post 3; sinilaban ang bangkay at ibinaon ito.

  Pagkalipas ng halos 1 buwan, 2 pang bangkay ang dinala sa kampo. Ibinaba ang mga bangkay mula sa pick up trak, dinala ang mga bangkay sa labas ng bakod. Kinaumagahan nakita kong mayroong sinilaban, at napakamasangsang ang amoy.

           May nakilala rin akong 1 retiradong koronel at 1 kasama niya. Pinakain ko sila. Sabi nila sa akin na dinukot sila sa Bataan. Iyong gabi, inilabas sila at hindi ko na sila nakita.

68. Ano pa ang nangyari sa inyo sa Limay?

           Pagkalipas ng 2 o 3 linggo sa Limay, ginising kami ni Lat maagang-maaga at dinala ako, si Reynaldo at si Manuel sa gubat. Pinatulog kami doon. Bandang alas-4 ng umaga tumawag si Donald sa cell phone ni Lat at pinabalik kami sa kampo.

           Sa sumunod na gabi, dinala uli kaming 3 sa gubat. Si Robin, tauhan din ni Donald ang nagdala sa amin doon. Kinaumagahan, ibinalik kami sa kampo. Habang ako’y nagwawalis namalayan ko na wala na pala sina Sherlyn at Karen. Hindi ko na sila nakita. Tapos tumawag si Donald sa cell phone at nag-utos na ikadena kami sa lugar kung saan ikinulong sina Karen at Sherlyn.

           Ikinadena kami ng 3 araw. Sa ikatlong araw, nilabas ni Lat si Manuel dahil kakausapin daw ni Gen. Palparan. Nakapiring si Manuel, wala siyang suot pang-itaas, pinosasan. Nilakasan ng mga sundalo ang tunog ng galing sa istiryo ng sasakyan. Di nagtagal, narinig ko ang hiyaw o ungol ni Manuel. Sumilip ako sa isang bahagi ng kamalig at nakita kong sinisilaban si Manuel.

           Kinaumagahan, naka-kadena pa kami. Tinanggal ang mga kadena mga 3 o 4 na araw pagkalipas. Sinabi sa amin na kaya kami nakakadena ay dahil pinagdidisisyunan pa ng mga sundalo kung papatayin kami o hindi.

           Tinanggal ang aming kadena. Kinausap kami ni Donald. Tinanong kami kung ano ang sabi ni Manuel sa amin. Sabi ni Donald huwag na raw naming hanapin ang dalawang babae at si Manuel, dahil magkakasama na yung tatlo. Sabi pa ni Donald na kami ni Reynaldo ay magbagong buhay at ituloy namin ni Reynaldo ang trabaho. Sa gabi, hindi na kami kinadena.”  (Emphasis and Italics Supplied).

28. On the second day of his testimony, Raymond Manalo apologized to the Court of Appeals for his demeanor during the previous hearing explaining that his attitude was attributable to his trauma triggered by the presence of a military officer who was allegedly one (1) of those who talked to him while under detention. When asked if said officer was present, Raymond Manalo pointed to a certain person in the hearing room who identified himself as Lt. Col Felipe Anotado, commanding officer of the 24^th Infantry Batallion in Limay, Bataan and a respondent in the Amparo case.

29. Adoracion Paulino testified that SHERLYN, her daughter-in-law, came to visit her in her house on April 11, 2007. SHERLYN was accompanied by two (2) men and three (3) women wearing military-like uniforms and armed. Copy of the Sinumpaang Salaysay of Adoracion Paulino is hereto attached as Annex “G”.

30. The said visit of SHERLYN to Adoracion Paulino, while on the pretext of recovering a gun and getting her clothes, was really intended to leave a letter to her mother-in-law regarding her condition and whereabouts, but was caught by her military escorts resulting in the severe torture of SHERLYN and KAREN as aforestated in the Answer to Question 64 in the Sinumpaang Salaysay Para Sa Hukuman of Raymond Manalo. Thus-

“64. Mula sa Camp Tecson, dinala pa ba kayong mga bihag sa ibang lugar?

           Opo. Noong ika-22 ng Nobyembre 2006 dinala kami sa isang kampo ng 24^th Infantry Battalion sa Limay, Bataan. Doon kami nanatili hanggang ika-8 ng Mayo 2007.

           Kaming lima (ako, si Reynaldo, si Sherlyn, si Karen at si Manuel) ang dinala sa Limay. Sinakay ako, si Reynaldo, si Sherlyn, at si Manuel sa isang stainless na jeep. Si Karen ay isinakay sa itim na sasakyan ni Donald Caigas. Sumama din sina Donald, Butch (ang driver ni Hilario), Micky, Mar at putting van ni Naknak. May 2 motorsiklo pang kasama.

           Ang kampo sa Limay ay maraming mga kubo.

           Sa Limay nakatikim ako ng bugbog nina Mar at Billy, Pinalo ng baril sa aking sikmura.

           Nakita kong pinahirapan sina Karen at Sherlyn sa iba’t-ibang paraan. Ganito ang pangyayari:

           Sinabi ni Sherlyn sa mga sundalo na mayroon siyang baril na tinatago sa bahay ng biyenan niya sa Calumpit, Bulacan. Dinala siya doon ng mga sundalo, nguni’t wala siyang nakuhang baril. Nag-iwan siya ng sulat para sa kaniyang biyenan nguni’t nakita ito ng mga sundalo at kinuha nila ang sulat.

Noong ibinalik si Sherlyn nakita ko si Sherlyn na itinali sa bangko, itinaas ang kanyang mga paa. Binuhusan siya ng tubig sa kanyang ilong; kinuryente siya. Sumisigaw siya. Matagal-tagal siyang pinahirapan. Halos 1 drum ng tubig ang ibinuhos sa kanya. Nang sinabi ni Sherlyn na tinulungan siya ni Karen para ihulog ang sulat, inilabas si Karen at pinahirapan din. Hindi ko nakita ang ginawa kay Karen; narinig ko lang ang mga sigaw niya. Kinabukasan, inuyam sila sa ginawang pananakit, ipinaalala sa kanila ang ginawang paghipo sa kanilang ari at pagpasok ng kahoy sa kanilang ari.

31. After due proceedings, the Court of Appeals issued a Decision in the Amparo case and a Resolution in the Habeas Corpus case dated September 17, 2008 granting the Motion for Reconsideration in the Habeas Corpus case and ordering the respondents to immediately release or cause the release from detention of SHERLYN, KAREN and Manuel Merino in both the Habeas Corpus and Amparo case. The Court of Appeals likewise ordered PNP Director General Avelino Razon to resume the PNP’s unfinished investigation so that the truth will be fully ascertained and appropriate charges filed against those truly responsible. Copy of the Court of Appeals’ Resolution and Decision dated September 17, 2008 is hereto attached and marked as Annex “H”.

32. To date, SHERLYN and KAREN remain missing and then PNP Director General Razon and current PNP Director General Raul M. Bacalso have not lifted a finger nor done anything is to resume PNP investigation on their forcible taking and disappearance.

33. The allegations stated in this Joint Complaint Affidavit clearly established conspiracy, i.e. not only the individual liability of those who carried out the forcible taking, torture and rape, but also the criminal liability of the military officers who are impleaded in this case. While the abduction of SHERLYN and KAREN were carried out by the un-named elements of the 56^th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, it was clearly established that they were detained under the custody of the 24^th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, and were tortured and raped by and under the knowledge and order of M/Sgt. Donald Caigas and M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario.

34. These in turn established that  SHERYLN and KAREN’S disappearance was planned and carried out, and their torture and rape inflicted by and under the orders, knowledge and acquiescence of Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac, then commanding officer of the 56^th Infantry Battalion and Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, then commanding officer of the 24^th Infantry Battalion, both under the direct command, order,  and supervision of Maj. General Jovito Palparan Jr., commanding general of the 7^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army who in turn himself directly participated as well as instigated, induced, cooperated or otherwise aided and abetted in the planning, preparation, execution or cover-up of these crimes.

35. This Joint Complaint Affidavit is being executed to attest to the truth of all the foregoing facts and events and to pave the way for the prosecution of the following offenses:

a. Rape (Article 266-A, Revised Penal Code, R.P.C.), as amended by R.A. No. 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997);

b. Serious Physical Injuries (Art. 263, R.P.C.);

c. Arbitrary Detention (Art. 124, R.P.C.);

d. Maltreatment of Prisoners (Art. 235, R.P.C.);

e. Grave Threats (Art. 282, R.P.C.);

f. Grave Coercion (Art. 286, R.P.C.);

g. Violation of R.A. 7438 or An Act Defining Certain Rights of Persons Arrested, Detained or Under Custodial Investigation as well as the Duties of the Arresting, Detaining and Investigating Officers, and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof and,

h. Violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, both of which not only involve generally accepted principles of international law adopted by the Philippines under the 1987 Constitution as part of the law of the land and which can be applied with equal force within Philippine jurisdiction, but also of which the Philippine Government is a State Party;

against the following named respondents, who conspired, confederated and mutually aided each other in committing the foregoing offenses against SHERLYN CADAPAN and KAREN EMPEŇO, to wit:

RESPONDENTS                                          ADDRESS

1. M/Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. (Ret.)            *Dado St. Wild Cat Village

                                                                          Barangay Ususan, 1630 Taguig City

2. Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac                               *Office of the Ethical Standards and

                                                                          Public Accountability (OESPA)

                                                                          7^th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division,

  Phil. Army., Fort Magsaysay

  Palayan City 3132 Nueva Ecija

3. Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado                            *Headquarters and Headquarters

                                                                          Service Batallion, Phil. Army

  Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

4. 2Lt. Francis Mirabelle Samson            *191^st MP Batallion HHSG

                                                                          Phil. Army, Fort Andres Bonifacio

                                                                          Metro Manila; or

                                                                        * 7th Infantry Division, Fort Magsaysay

                                                                          Palayan City 3132 Nueva Ecija

5. Arnel Enriquez                                           *Balot, San Agustin, Hagonoy

                                                                          Bulacan; or

                                                                        *Bani 2407 Pangasinan

6. M/gt. Donald Caigas alias Allan             * 24^th Infantry Battalion HQ

            or Alvin                                                 Brgy. Banog, Bolinao 2406 Pangasinan;                                                                             or * Banog Norte, Bani, Pangasinan

7. M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario                                   * 24^th Infantry Battalion, Limay

                                                                          Bataan; or

                                                                        *7^th Infantry Division, Fort Magsaysay

                                                                          Palayan City, Nueva Ecija

8. “Mickey Doe”, “Donald Doe”,                  *Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan

and “Billy Doe” who tortured

and raped Sherlyn T. Cadapan

at Camp Tecson.

9. Several “John Does” who                        *7^th Infantry Division, Fort Magsaysay

participated in the abduction, detention       Laur, Nueva Ecija;

torture and rape of Sherlyn T. Cadapan     * 24^th Infantry Battalion, Limay

and Karen E. Empeño.                                    Bataan;

* 56^th Infantry Battalion, Iba, Hagonoy

  Bulacan; or

                                                                        *Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan

10. Three (3) “Jane Does” who                   * 24^th Infantry Battalion, Limay, Bataan

accompanied Sherlyn T. Cadapan to

the house of Adoracion Paulino on

April 11, 2007

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto affixed our signatures on this __ day of May, 2011 at Manila.

ERLINDA T. CADAPAN                                          CONCEPCION E. EMPEÑO,

Affiant                                                                         Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this ___ day of May, 2011 at the City of Manila.

I hereby CERTIFY that I have personally examined the affiants and that I am satisfied that they have voluntarily executed and understood their Joint Complaint Affidavit.

                                                                                    Asst. State Prosecutor