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Nwes release
Reference: Cristina Palabay, Spokesperson, 0917-5003879
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, 0918-9790580
“Run for your life” highlights rights groups’
demand to jail Gen. Jovito Palparan –Karapatan
Members of rights groups, students, academe and joggers today ‘captured’
fugitive general ‘Jovito Palparan’ after a 4.4 kilometer run dubbed ‘Run
for your life (this is not a fun run)’ around the academic oval at the
University of the Philippines in Diliman.
“ ‘Run for your life’ commemorates the abduction and enforced
disappearance of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño six years
ago. The run echoes the call of their mothers Erlinda Cadapan and Connie
Empeño for us to persist in looking for Palparan who remains at-large, six
months after the Malolos Regional Trial Court issued a warrant of arrest
for kidnapping and illegal detention,” said Gidget Estrella, convenor of
Tanggulan Youth Network, one of the event sponsors.
Erlinda Cadapan and Connie Empeño and other members of the group
Desaparecidos were accompanied by the runners in putting ‘Palparan to
jail,’ “to illustrate the public’s vigilance in pursuing justice and to
reiterate the call on the Aquino government to intensify efforts to arrest
Palparan,” said Mary Gay Portajada, secretary general of Desaparecidos.
Cristina Palabay, Karapatan spokesperson said that “Palparan personifies
the prevailing state of impunity in the country and the Aquino
government’s tolerance for torturers and human rights violators like
Palparan and his master Gloria Arroyo, despite outrage that extends from
among those in the international community.”
Palabay, who was part of the Philippine UPR Watch who lobbied in Geneva,
referred to the recently concluded UN sponsored Universal Periodic Review
(UPR) where some 69 countries questioned the Philippine government on its
human rights record. At least 22 countries specifically expressed concern
on the continuing impunity and in particular, the spate of extrajudicial
killings, enforced disappearances and torture, while Australia made
recommendations on the arrest of Palparan. The European Parliament, in
their June 14 2012 resolution, also specifically pointed to the
government’s “insufficient ability” to “effectively combat the widespread
impunity of the perpetrators of such acts and tackle the politically
motivated violence in the country.”
The activity is also a prelude to the commemoration of the UN
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on June 26. “Sherlyn
and Karen were both victims of torture in their captivity. The state
continues to employ torture against those it considers as ‘enemies of the
state’. Survivors of abduction and many political prisoners could attest
to this,” said Prof. Sarah Raymundo of UP Kilos Na! And Karen Empeño’s
former professor in UP Diliman.
Karapatan, to date, has documented 96 victims of torture and 76 victims of
extrajudicial killings, 363 political prisoners and nine have been
forcibly disappeared under the Aquino administration. Felix Pariñas of the
All UP Workers Alliance said that the activity is a “tribute to the
victims of torture and all other forms of human rights abuses, and is a
way to give voice to the call for justice.”
“The Philippines may be a signatory to international human rights
instruments such as the Convention against Torture but state security
forces continue the use of torture and at the very least tolerates it, as
none have been punished for violating the Anti-Torture Law. Palparan
stands out as an example. Until the Aquino government acts to put ‘The
Butcher’ and his master Gloria Arroyo in jail for the crimes they have
committed and unless Aquino ends its OBL-rehashed Oplan Bayanihan,
impunity prevails and more people’s rights will be violated,” concluded
Palabay. ###
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PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central
District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org
KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human
rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual
advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and
civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights
violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training
and campaign.
--------------------------------------------
BALITA
June 26, 2012
References:
Cristina Palabay, Spokesperson, Karapatan, Contact Number: 0917-5003879
Mary Guy Portajada, Secretary General, Desaparecidos, Contact Number:
09175230396
Sa ikaanim na taon ng pagkawala ng mga UP
students
“Kupas na ang t-shirt ko,” puna ni Connie Empeno, sa kamiseta niyang may
litrato ng kanyang anak na si Karen, kasama si Sherlyn Cadapan, na may
katagang “Ilitaw, Palayain!”
Anim na taon na ang nakaraan mula nang unang isuot ni Connie ang kamiseta,
sa paghahanap sa mga kampo at pagdalo sa mga rali kasama ang kapwa inang
si Linda Cadapan, para hanapin ang kanilang mga nawawalang anak.
Ngayong araw ding ito, kasabay ng paggunita ng United Nations
International Day to Support Victims of Torture, inilunsad ng Karapatan at
ng mga panrehiyong tsapter nito ang “Mga kampo buksan, ilabas si Palparan!”
para igiit sa gobyernong Aquino na “tigilan na ang satsat at seryosohin
ang paghahanap sa isa sa mga pinaka-notoryus na human rights violator sa
bansa,” ayon kay Tinay Palabay, tagapagsalita ng Karapatan.
Anim na buwan na mula nang isyuhan ng arrest warrant si Palparan ng
Malolos Regional Trial Court, ngunit hanggang sa ngayon ay wanted pa rin
ang retiradong heneral na kilalang “berdugo” dahil sa mga kaso nito ng
paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Si Palparan ang pinuno ng 7th Infantry
Division ng Philippine Army na nag-ooperasyon sa Central Luzon nang
dukutin ang dalawang estudyante sa Hagonoy, Bulacan
“Nakabibingi ang katahimikan ng gobyernong Aquino sa tanong ng taumbayan
kung nasaan si Palparan. Naniniwala kaming kinakanlong si Palparan ng mga
maimpluwensyang tao kapwa sa gobyerno at mga insitusyong militar. Ito lang
ang posibleng dahilan kung bakit hindi mahanap at maikulong si Palparan,”
dagdag pa ni Palabay.
Kasama ng Karapatan, nagrali ngayong araw sa harap ng headquarters ng
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang Desaparecidos at iba pang mga
organisasyon, para ipanawagan sa AFP na “isuko na si Palparan.” “Dapat
niyang harapin ang mga kaso niya sa korte at makulong!” sinabi ni Mary Guy
Portajada, pangkalahatang kalihim ng Desaparecidos.
Sa Central Luzon, idinaos ng Karapatan-Central Luzon ang isang rali sa
tapat ng Camp Servillano Aquino sa Tarlac, kung saan nakahimpil ang AFP
Northern Luzon command. Samantala, pumuwesto naman ang Karapatan-Southern
Tagalog sa Camp Guillermo Nakar sa Lucena City kung nasaan ang Southern
Luzon Command headquarters, na inirereklamo rin ng mga residente dahil sa
samu’t saring pang-aabuso na ginagawa ng mga sundalo sa probinsya ng
Quezon.
Sa Cebu City, nagsagawa ng kilos protesta ang Karapatan-Central Visayas sa
harap ng Camp Sergio Osmeña sa Cebu City para kondenahin ang mga
pamamaslang sa rehiyon at sa ginagawang tortyur kay Ramon Patriarca, isang
bilanggong pulitikal at consultant ng National Democratic Front na
nakadetined sa AFP Central Command sa Cebu.
Magkakasabay namang nagdikit ng mga poster na “Wanted Palparan” ang mga
tsapter ng Karapatan sa Cordillera, Davao, Bicol, Ilocos, at CARAGA.
Nanawagan din ang Karapatan sa mga gumagamit ng Facebook na palitan ang
kanilang mga profile picture ng “Wanted Palparan” poster.
“Sobrang haba na ang anim na taong paghihintay na bumalik si Karen at
Sherlyn sa amin. Ang nais na namin ay maparusahan si Palparan at Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo sa mga ginawa nilang krimen sa mga mahal namin sa buhay,”
ani Linda Cadapan, ina ni Sherlyn.
Ayon pa sa Karapatan, hindi na sila nagugulat na hindi maparusahan ng
gobyerno si Arroyo at Palparan. “Sa unang dalawang taon ng administrasyon
ni Aquino, ipinagpatuloy nito ang paghahasik ng takot at dahas ng mga
military sa ilalim ng counter-insurgency plan na Oplan Bayanihan,” sinabi
ni Palabay.
Nagtala ang Karapatan ng 76 biktima ng pamamaslang at 96 na biktima ng
tortyur, habang papatindi ang operasyong military sa maraming probinsya sa
bansa.
Iginiit ng grupo na itigil na ang tortyur, extrajudicial killings,
enforced disappearances at iba pang paglabag sa karapatang pantao. ###
---------------------------------------------
Takbo para sa hustisya, paglitaw sa mga nawawala
by Macky Macaspac | Pinoy Weekly
Tumakbo ang aabot sa isandaang katao noong Hunyo 22 sa Unibersidad ng
Pilipinas sa Diliman, Quezon City. Pero ayon sa mga organizer, hindi raw
ito fun run: Dahil walang masaya sa isyu ng enforced disappearances o
desaparecidos, at ang patuloy na pagkawala nila at ng hustisya sa kanilang
mga kaso.
Ginanap ang naturang pagtakbo bago ang ika-anim na taong anibersaryo ng
pagdukot sa mga estudyante ng UP at aktibista na sina Sherlyn Cadapan at
Karen Empeno, na dinukot ng mga elemento ng militar sa ilalim ni Hen.
Jovito Palparan noong Hunyo 26, 2006.
Kasama ang mga ina nina Sherlyn at Karen, mga kaibigan, dating kaeskuwela
at guro, kasalukuyang aktibista, at si Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino,
dalawang beses na inikot ng runners ang Academic Oval (4.4 kilometro) para
bigyang pokus sa publiko ang patuloy na pagkawala ng mga tulad nina
Sherlyn at Karen.
Nais din nilang bigyang pokus ang patuloy na pagtatago ni — at pagkabigo
ng administrasyong Aquino na tugisin si — Jovito Palparan.
Narito ang ilang larawan ng “Run for Your Life 2: This is not a fun run,”
na inisponsor ng Karapatan at iba pang grupong pangkarapatang pantao:
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NEWS RELEASE
June 26, 2012
References:
Cristina Palabay, Spokesperson, Karapatan Mary Guy Portajada, Secretary
General, Desaparecidos
Contact Number: 0917-5003879 Contact Number: 09175230396
Press release may also be viewed through this link:
http://www.karapatan.org/KARAPATAN+dares+AFP+to+open+military+camps+to+prove+Palparan+is+not+there
KARAPATAN dares AFP to open military camps to
prove Palparan is not there
“The print on my t-shirt has faded,” said Connie Empeno matter-of-factly.
Her shirt displayed her daughter’s photo with the call “Surface Karen and
Sherlyn.” Connie is Karen Empeno’s mother, and it has been six years since
she started wearing the shirt during ‘camp searches’ to look for her
daughter and during mobilizations to press the government to surface Karen
and Sherlyn. Karen and Sherlyn Cadapan are missing since 2006. Today, June
26 2012 marks the 6th year of their disappearance, as it also marks the
worldwide commemoration of the United Nations International Day to Support
Victims of Torture.
KARAPATAN and its regional chapters marked the day through a nationally
coordinated “Search the camps for Palparan” to impress on the Aquino
government “to go beyond press releases and get serious in finding one of
the most notorious human rights violator in this country,” said Cristina
Palabay, spokesperson of Karapatan. It has been six months since Gen.
Palparan was issued a warrant of arrest by the Malolos Regional Trial
Court.
Palabay added that, “the Aquino government’s silence on the whereabouts of
Palparan is deafening. We believe that Palparan’s like-minded friends who
are influential both in the government and in the military institutions
are coddling the butcher Palparan. This is the only logical explanation
for the long delay in finding and jailing Palparan.”
KARAPATAN, Families of Desaparecidos for Justice (Desaparecidos) and other
progressive organizations were in front the headquarters of the Department
of National Defense at the Camp Aguinaldo along EDSA road to call the
Armed Forces of the Philippines to ‘surrender Palparan’. “He (Palparan)
should face his charges in court and be imprisoned!” Mary Guy Portajada,
secretary general of Desaparecidos said.
Other Karapatan chapters held similar activities. Karapatan-Central Luzon
held a rally at the gates of the Northern Luzon command in Camp Servillano
Aquino, Tarlac City, preceded by a forum on the Anti-Terrorism Law.
Karapatan-Southern Tagalog stopped by the Southern Luzon Command
headquarters at Camp Guillermo Nakar in Lucena City, on their way to
provinces in Quezon where residents face various rights abuses by the
military. Karapatan-Central Visayas conducted a protest action at Camp
Sergio Osmeña in Cebu City to condemn the extrajudicial killings in the
region and the torture of political prisoner Ramon Patriarca, a consultant
of the National Democratic Front currently detained at the AFP Central
Command in Cebu.
Karapatan chapters in Cordillera, Davao, Bicol, Ilocos, and CARAGA mounted
“Wanted Palparan” posters, and conducted fora and press conferences.
Facebook users were also asked to mount the “Wanted Palparan” posters on
their profile pictures or walls.
“Six years is long enough to wait for the disappeared to come back home,
for the Families of the Disappeared, we will not stop until Palparan and
Arroyo is punished on their crimes to our loved ones,” said Connie Empeño.
Karapatan said the failure of the Aquino administration to make Arroyo and
Palparan comes as no surprise as the pattern of violations in the first
two years of the Aquino administration indicates that it continues the
legacy of military terror and violence under its counter-insurgency policy
of Oplan Bayanihan.” The rights group has documented more than 76 victims
of extrajudicial killings and 96 torture victims, amid the increasing
militarization of rural communities.
The groups called on the AFP and Aquino administration to stop torture,
extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other rights abuses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central
District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org
KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human
rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual
advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and
civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights
violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training
and campaign.
|
|
x
Rights groups launch “run for your life”
by Nadezhda L. Tañola Jun 23, 2012
1:47pm
Remate
MEMBERS of rights groups, students, academe and joggers today ‘captured’
fugitive general ‘Jovito Palparan’ after a 4.4 kilometer run dubbed ‘Run
for your life (this is not a fun run)’ around the academic oval at the
University of the Philippines in Diliman.
“ ‘Run for your life’ commemorates the abduction and enforced
disappearance of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño six years
ago. The run echoes the call of their mothers Erlinda Cadapan and Connie
Empeño for us to persist in looking for Palparan who remains at-large, six
months after the Malolos Regional Trial Court issued a warrant of arrest
for kidnapping and illegal detention,” said Gidget Estrella, convenor of
Tanggulan Youth Network, one of the event sponsors.
Erlinda Cadapan and Connie Empeño and other members of the group
Desaparecidos were accompanied by the runners in putting ‘Palparan to
jail,’ “to illustrate the public’s vigilance in pursuing justice and to
reiterate the call on the Aquino government to intensify efforts to arrest
Palparan,” said Mary Gay Portajada, secretary general of Desaparecidos.
Cristina Palabay, Karapatan spokesperson said that “Palparan personifies
the prevailing state of impunity in the country and the Aquino
government’s tolerance for torturers and human rights violators like
Palparan and his master Gloria Arroyo, despite outrage that extends from
among those in the international community.”
Palabay, who was part of the Philippine UPR Watch who lobbied in Geneva,
referred to the recently concluded UN sponsored Universal Periodic Review
(UPR) where some 69 countries questioned the Philippine government on its
human rights record. At least 22 countries specifically expressed concern
on the continuing impunity and in particular, the spate of extrajudicial
killings, enforced disappearances and torture, while Australia made
recommendations on the arrest of Palparan. The European Parliament, in
their June 14 2012 resolution, also specifically pointed to the
government’s “insufficient ability” to “effectively combat the widespread
impunity of the perpetrators of such acts and tackle the politically
motivated violence in the country.”
The activity is also a prelude to the commemoration of the UN
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on June 26. “Sherlyn
and Karen were both victims of torture in their captivity. The state
continues to employ torture against those it considers as ‘enemies of the
state’. Survivors of abduction and many political prisoners could attest
to this,” said Prof. Sarah Raymundo of UP Kilos Na! And Karen Empeño’s
former professor in UP Diliman.
Karapatan, to date, has documented 96 victims of torture and 76 victims of
extrajudicial killings, 363 political prisoners and nine have been
forcibly disappeared under the Aquino administration. Felix Pariñas of the
All UP Workers Alliance said that the activity is a “tribute to the
victims of torture and all other forms of human rights abuses, and is a
way to give voice to the call for justice.”
“The Philippines may be a signatory to international human rights
instruments such as the Convention against Torture but state security
forces continue the use of torture and at the very least tolerates it, as
none have been punished for violating the Anti-Torture Law. Palparan
stands out as an example. Until the Aquino government acts to put ‘The
Butcher’ and his master Gloria Arroyo in jail for the crimes they have
committed and unless Aquino ends its OBL-rehashed Oplan Bayanihan,
impunity prevails and more people’s rights will be violated,”Palabay said.
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For immediate release
News Release
26 June 2012
Reference: Angelina Ipong, SELDA secretary general 0949-9587373
On the occasion of International Day in
support of Victims of Torture
Human rights group condemns torture of political prisoner in military camp
Today, on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, human
rights group SELDA (Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto)
called to stop the torture, and the inhuman or degrading treatment of a
political prisoner while in solitary confinement at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.
According to Angie Ipong, SELDA’s secretary general, Tirso Alcantara, an
NDFP consultant who was arrested without warrant and is now facing
trumped-up criminal charges, is suffering from inhumane treatment from his
captors.
“The military is killing him softly. Alcantara should be transferred to a
civilian detention facility right away because as long as he stays under
military custody, his health condition and life is always in danger,”
Ipong said.
Alcantara, who recently signed an affidavit complaining about the inhumane
treatment, said that many times his food ration had dirt or trash in it,
like matchsticks, broken pieces of glass, or feces mixed with the food. He
said that he has also been given food that has caused swelling of his
lips, numbness of his mouth, headache, abdominal spasms and vomiting.
His statement further narrated that he was made to drink water that smells
and tastes like menthol. After drinking the water, his head and stomach
would ache terribly for days, accompanied with vomiting and loose bowel
movement.
According to him, unauthorized blood samples were also extracted from him
while he was blindfolded and without his permission.
“On March 10, after complaining of a rise in blood pressure, he was seen
by a doctor who did not identify himself. Alcantara underwent an ECG
procedure, and was given medicines. After taking the medicines, he had
nausea, headache, and chills,” Ipong said.
On June 17, the group went to Fort Bonifacio to visit Alcantara, together
with a lawyer and a doctor, but only the lawyer and doctor were allowed
inside. “His visitors, including lawyers, doctors, and church workers were
made to wait much longer than the time they spent with him,” Ipong said.
The group said the military’s treatment to Alcantara are violation of his
rights guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution, Convention against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, ,
Anti-Torture Act of 2009 and Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human
Rights and International Humanitarian Laws (CARHRIHL).
“The AFP is continuously violating rights under their Oplan Bayanihan. No
matter how many times they say ‘respect human rights,’ they are merely
doing a repeat of the former administration’s Oplan Bantay Laya,” Ipong
concluded. ###
--
The Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) is an
organization of former political prisoners in the Philippines. Founded on
December 4, 1984, SELDA was initiated by newly-released political
prisoners of the martial law period. SELDA’s primary task is to work for
the release of all political prisoners and to see to it that humane
treatment of those who are still in detention are complied with by the
Philippine authorities. SELDA advocates justice for current and former
political prisoners. It calls for the mobilisation of resources in support
of political prisoners, former detainees and their families. It carries
out legislative advocacy for the indemnification and rehabilitation of
political prisoners. SELDA goes into partnership and builds solidarity
with concerned individuals and groups for the freedom and welfare of
political prisoners and all victims of tyranny.
SELDA National Office: 2/F, Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag
Streets,
Brgy. Central District, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Tel: 632-4342837 Fax: 632-4354146
Email: selda.phils@gmail.com, selda_phil@yahoo.com.ph
Web:
www.seldapilipinas.wordpress.com
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