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Mothers of Karen and Sherlyn angry but unfazed by Palparan’s delaying tactics
 

http://desaparesidos.wordpress.com

We, the mothers of missing activists and University of the Philippines Students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, deplore the continued legal maneuverings of retired Philippine Army General Jovito Palparan, Jr. and his co-accused as we together with our family, friends and supporters join today’s second hearing of our case against them at the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Malolos, Bulacan.

These human rights violators seek to delay the trial of our case against them by filing motion after motion of reconsideration for whatever reason they wish to concoct. Through these tactics both former Gen. Jovito Palparan, Jr. and Master Sergeant Rizal Hilario are trying to show that they can ironically play with the so-called rule of law as they continue to mock the courts, refuse to surrender while always invoking “due process”. They hope that we will give up our fight for justice given the impunity they can still wield even if Palparan is retired from service.

Palparan cannot demand the court to act on his motions, when he refuses to be held under their jurisdiction. We dare him to face his sins or remain a hunted man.

In the mean time, we had hoped that since December, these fugitives would have already been captured by government agencies tasked to get them, but after 40 days since the warrant of arrest was issued, these wanted criminals continue to play hide and seek with their captors.

We cannot help but suspect that Palparan continues to benefit from the good graces of his former boss by providing him with a new lawyer and who knows, could also be coddling him.

That is why we continue to urge the Aquino government to use all its resources in finally capturing Palparan and Hilario, for if they fail we will also hold the current administration accountable for this delay of justice.

At the same time, we hope that the courts realize that the other respondents, namely, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and Staff Sergeant Eduardo Osorio, must be kept in a regular detention center and should no longer remain in the custody of the military.

f Palparan and his co-accused think that we will grow tired or become frustrated by all these delaying tactics, then he is dead wrong. We have waited for this opportunity to see to it that charges are filed against him and his ilk after six years. We have all the support of not only the other families of victims of his bloody human rights atrocities but the rest of the Filipinos. We will see to it that Justice will be served. ###

Reference:
c/o Mary Guy Portajada, Secretary General
4342837/09175415133
Connie Empeno, mother of missing Karen Empeno
Linda Cadapan, mother of missing Sherlyn Cadapan

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“Enough talk on Palparan’s whereabouts, just get him!” – mother Concepcion Empeño
January 21, 2012

“Enough with talks on Palparan sightings, JUST GET HIM!” Connie Empeño, mother of missing activist Karen Empeno declared as response to several published reports on the reported location of Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr.

For the past week, there have been news reports that Palparan was seen in Bongabon and Gen. Tinio, Nueva Ecija, and later in Aurora. Previous reports cited sightings of the man notoriously referred to as the “Butcher” in Bulacan and Zambales.

“These are what I call not-so intelligence reports. They mean nothing to our families if the authorities keep on only reporting on seeing Palparan but continuously fail to catch him,” Empeño said, “Thank you for these efforts pero mas pasasalamatan ko pa kayo kung mahuli niyo na siya (but I would be more thankful, if you do finally catch him.).”

Meanwhile, Hustisya secretary general Cristina said they fear these reports may be misinformation, “as a diversionary tactic for people to look elsewhere.”

“If authorities have such intel reports, why haven’t they arrested Palparan yet?” Guevarra asked.

Palparan and M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario both have eluded arrest for two counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention on the abduction and disappearance of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan. It has been 32 days since the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14 have issued the warrants against them.

People’s manhunt continues until Palparan gets arrested

“We continue to urge the Filipino nation to join the People’s Manhunt for Palparan and Hilario,” Guevarra said.

Hustisya, joined by Families of the Desaparecidos for Justice (Desaparecidos), commemorated its monthly Third Saturday Gathering by putting up “Wanted Palparan” posters along the streets of Manila.

“We thank those who have initiated putting up “Wanted Palparan” posters in their communities but at the same time we call on all other sectors of our society to join in this hunt to bring Palparan to justice,” Guevarra said.

Several groups have joined in the People’s Manhunt including peasant group Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon (AMGL), students and human rights activists in Iloilo City and Miag-ao, and Artists Arrest, a cultural group which sponsored a poster and sticker design making contest to help pin down the Butcher. Human rights activists in Cebu have also put up the same wanted posters in Cebu City.

In addition to these efforts, the Alliance of Migrant Workers, MIGRANTE has heeded the call for a peoples’ manhunt urging immigration officers and migrant workers to be on the lookout in case Palparan will attempt to escape the country again.

“We also urge soldiers with conscience to help bring this Butcher Palparan to justice. We believe that Palparan is being coddled by his minions in the military and some local politicians who have benefitted from grave human rights violations perpetrated under his command,” Guevarra said.

The group said they shall “make Palparan’s world smaller each day until he has nowhere else to go but in jail.” ###

Reference:
Lorena P. Santos, deputy Secretary General
4342837/09175415133
Connie Empeno, mother of missing Karen Empeno
Linda Cadapan, mother of missing Sherlyn Cadapan

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PNOY government’s promise to arrest Palparan a mere “show off”—Karapatan
 

“The P-Noy government’s failure to arrest the fugitive Gen. Jovito Palparan more than a month after the Regional Trial Court of Bulacan issued a warrant of arrest allows Palparan and his lawyers to play with truth, justice and sadly, the emotions of the mothers of the two missing students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno,” said Jigs Clamor, deputy Secretary General of Karapatan.

In today’s hearing at Malolos RTC branch 14, Atty. Narzal Mallares and Atty. Jesus I. Santos appeared as counsels for the fugitive general. During the proceedings, the two lawyers resorted to senseless and futile arguments in an effort to question the jurisdiction of the court against their client, to delay the proceedings and to confuse the plaintiffs.

Atty. Jesus I. Santos, who served as the legal spokesperson and lawyer of former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, came in court with no conformity from Jovito Palparan and Rizal Hilario. Palparan’s counsels, attempted to break out from the issue by manifesting in open court that Atty. Santos received a call informing him that the two students are “still alive.” Asked about the truthfulness of the allegation, Santos simply said that he had “verified” it and refused to divulge any more information.

“This is obviously a desperate shot to divert the attention of the public. If Sherlyn and Karen are still alive, they must surface the two students. Their mothers have waited long enough; this is tantamount to obstruction of justice. They cannot coddle the fugitives as long as they want. Palparan and his protectors cannot get away with the cases filed against them,”

The prosecution panel asserts that the cases of Kidnapping and Illegal Detention still stand whatever supervening event may occur.

“The failure of the P-Noy government to arrest Palparan is clearly a manifestation of its lackadaisical attitude. It is obviously not serious in prosecuting human rights violator. As long as Palparan and his ilk continue to mock the courts, human rights violators will go on playing with the emotions of the victims’ families not only adding salt to an already gaping wound but insulting a people’s concept of democracy. And for as long as Palparan remains a fugitive, IMPUNITY remains a major problem in the country,” concluded Clamor.

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PRESS RELEASE
February 7, 2012

References:
Joseph Canlas, Chairperson, AMGL (0918-233-5050)

Palparan’s mentality shows military’s contempt to civilian supremacy, farmers said

The Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL, Farmers’ Alliance in Central Luzon) slammed former Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, particularly his statement that he would not surrender and calling the criminal case against him as ‘farce’ and claimed that it is the very mentality the military have that leads to impunity and ceaseless violations of basic rights of sectors demanding fundamental reforms from the government. Palparan is charged with the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines (UP) students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño at the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14.

“Everybody should learn from Palparan. His statement clearly shows that he sees himself as above civilian supremacy, exempted from liability and licensed to kill, abduct, torture anyone he intends to. It is the dominant state of mind of the military, police and other state forces,” said Joseph Canlas, AMGL Chairperson.

Last month, AMGL directed all its chapters and members to support the search for the fugitive general.

“Some of our chapters have relayed reports that he was spotted at some provinces in the region, and we instructed our members to thoroughly confirm them. We believe that he is being coddled by the military, putting him at their stronghold,” said Canlas.

AMGL challenged the Aquino government to immediately arrest Palparan and not doing so is the clear proof that he is under their protection.

“With all the capabilities of the Aquino government, the military and its law-enforcing bodies, it is very unbelievable that they are unable to find Palparan whose network was build within the operation of the government,” Canlas said.

AMGL said that failure to arrest Palparan is an indicator that the legal system under president Aquino’s watch is pathetic and ineffective that would eventually lead to the worsening culture of impunity and human rights abuses. The group believes the military is bent to protect Palparan as they view his arrest as a let-down to their morale.

“There is a strong perception that he is under the protection of the Aquino government as he terrorized members of legal-democratic organizations during the implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya and it is continued at present through Aquino’s counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan. Palparan’s declaration that the case against him is a ‘farce’ proves that he knows the Aquino government is merel
y ‘acting’ on hunting him,” Canlas said. #

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Press Release
February 2, 2012

Clearer, stronger and firmer directive from PNoy necessary for Palparan’s capture

The statement issued by the New York-based international human rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) that some military personnel and business owners are protecting retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan validates one of the lingering apprehensions of the victims’ families and human rights defenders as well as the general public at large.

“If true, then Palparan’s handlers and coddlers will have to be sued as shameless accessories,” Atty. Edre Olalia, Secretary General of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, said in response to the HRW statement. “They are not only condoning the heinous and beastly crimes he and his roving band are being charged with, but are perpetuating impunity,” Atty. Olalia added.

The arrest warrant against Gen. Palparan and three other military personnel was issued by the Malolos Regional Trial Court on December 19, 2011. After a month of manhunt by government law enforcement agencies and after a P1-million bounty has been put up for his capture, the actual whereabouts of the retired general are yet to be known. Palparan’s co-accused and sidekick M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario is also still at large.

“PNoy must pay more attention and give priority to the affairs of the state. The victims and families have been waiting for justice for the longest time. He should give a clearer, stronger and firmer directive as the supposed Commander-in-Chief to locate, arrest and hale Palparan to court,” Atty. Olalia said.

“There are prevalent doubts from the victims and their families whether the Pnoy administration itself has in fact made any serious, systematic and concrete effort to initiate the effective and genuine investigation and prosecution of human rights violators of the past and the present. Meanwhile, several other victims will, on their own, persist to throw the book at Gen. Palparan and his kind for the most horrific rights violations,” Atty. Olalia added.

“The statement of Human Rights Watch forebodes the renewed alarm, concern and even frustration of international groups and the international community about the continuing impunity for rights violations in the country,” he pointed out.

The NUPL is the private prosecutor in the case of Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention against Gen. Palparan and his co-accused, involving the disappearance of UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan. The NUPL is also the counsel of human rights victims Raymond Manalo, Oscar Leuterio, Melissa Roxas, Ericson Acosta, and the Morong 43 health workers, among others. #


Reference: Atty. Edre U. Olalia, NUPL Secretary General, 09175113373

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The Progress Lawyers Network (PLN) of Belgium originated in 2003 as a network of progressive lawyers in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. It has defended union members and immigrants and engages in social law. It is a member of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), an organization with members in 90 countries and has UN consultative status and is accredited at the UN Human Rights Council.

STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH NUPL ACTION

AGAINST MAJ GEN JOVITO PALPARAN

The Haldane Society supports the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers' actions against Maj Gen Jovito Palparan.

The arrest warrant against Gen. Palparan and three other military personnel was issued by the Malolos Regional Trial Court on December 19, 2011. After a month-long manhunt by government law enforcement agencies and after a P1-million bounty has been put up for his capture, the actual whereabouts of the retired general are yet to be known. Palparan’s co-accused and sidekick M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario is also still at large.

“The victims and families have been waiting for justice for the longest time. There are prevalent doubts from the victims and their families whether the Pnoy  administration itself has in fact made any serious, systematic  and concrete effort  to initiate the effective and genuine investigation and prosecution of human rights violators of the past and the present. We hope several other victims will, on their own, persist to throw the book at Gen. Palparan and  his kind  for the most horrific rights violations,” said Liz Davies, Chair of the Haldane Society.

The NUPL is the private prosecutor in the case of Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention against Gen. Palparan and his co-accused , involving the disappearance of UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan. The NUPL is also the counsel of human rights victims Raymond Manalo, Oscar Leuterio, Melissa Roxas, Ericson Acosta, and the Morong 43 health workers, among others.

Liz Davies

Chair Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers

Contact: lizdavies@riseup.net

5 February 2012

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The Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers (UK), based in London, was founded in 1930. It is an organisation which provides a forum for the discussion and analysis of law and the legal system both nationally and internationally, from a socialist perspective. It is independent of any political party. Its membership consists of individuals who are lawyers, academics or students and legal workers, and it also has trade union and labour affiliates.