Human rights violators GMA and Palparan are free, our loved ones remain missing. Is this what you call justice? – families of Desaparecidos

“Nasaan ang hustisyang ipinagmamalaki mo noong SONA, President Noynoy?” (What justice were you bragging about in your SONA?” Mary Guy Portajada, secretary general of Families of Desaparecidos for Justice dared President Noynoy Aquino. “Hustisya ba itong malaya si Gloria Arroyo, siyang may sala sa pagkawala ng mahigit 200 na desaparecido noong rehimen niya?” (Where is justice when Gloria Arroyo is free when she should be held accountable for the more than 200 disappearances during her regime), Portajada said.

Meanwhile, Linda Cadapan, mother of missing activist Sherlyn Cadapan said, “Naniniwala na ako na nagkasundo na talaga si GMA at Noynoy. Kasi kung seryoso ang ating Pangulo, matagal na niyang kinasuhan si Gloria sa kaniyang human rights violations at titiyaking hindi makalaya si Gloria. ” (I am truly convinced that Noynoy and GMA have already come to a compromise because if the President is serious, he could have already charged Arroyo on her human rights violation and would ensure that GMA is jailed.)

According to KARAPATAN, Gloria Arroyo left her presidency with a record of 1,206 cases of extra-judicial killings and 206 victims of enforced disappearances. Through her Oplan Bantay Laya, Arroyo, together with high ranking military officials such as Ret. Maj. Jovito S. Palparan Jr. is responsible to the deaths and disappearances of unarmed civilians and activists who were targeted for “neutralization.”

“Let us not forget those victims of Arroyo, especially those who disappeared. It is clear that Aquino’s speech remains just a speech, ” Cadapan said.

“Hindi talaga pantay ang batas natin – para sa mga may pera at may kapangyarihan lang,” (Our law isn’t equal . It is only for the rich and powerful,” Concepcion Empeño, mother of missing Karen Empeno blurted out.  “Our case has been pending for many years now, yet GMA is freed with just one a snap.” Mrs. Empeño added.

Linda Cadapan and Concepcion Empeño are the mothers of the two University of the Philippines students who were abducted on June 26, 2006 while conducting their research in Hagonoy, Bulacan. Raymond Manalo, another victim of abduction testified in court to have seen the two students at the custody of the military under the command of now Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan. According to Manalo, the two were raped and tortured.

“Malacañang can point all their fingers elsewhere but GMA’s freedom is Noynoy’s accountability.” Portajada said. “Noynoy can put the blame on GMA for the disappearance of the victims but it is already Noynoy’s inaction that the victims remain missing up to the present and justice is still elusive, ” Portajada concluded.###

Reference:
Mary Guy Portajada, Secretary General
Contact Number: 09175230396

AFP dared to open camps to groups searching for Palparan

June 27, 2012 | Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Human rights Karapatan on Wednesday dared the Armed Forces of the Philippines to open its military camps to prove that it is not coddling retired general Jovito Palparan. Cristina Palabay, spokesperson of Karapatan, said the move would show the AFP’s sincerity to capture the fugitive former army general. “The 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,” Palabay said. Six months have passed since Gen. Palparan was issued a warrant of arrest by the Malolos Regional Trial Court for the disappearance of UP students, Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan. Palabay said the families of the two missing students and Karapatan believe that the AFP is harboring the ex-military top official. “We believe that Palparan’s like-minded friends who are influential both in the government and in the military institutions are coddling…Palparan. This is the only logical explanation for the long delay in finding and jailing Palparan,” she added. Karapatan, Families of Desaparecidos for Justice (Desaparecidos) and other groups picketed in front the headquarters of the Department of National Defense at the Camp Aguinaldo along EDSA road to call on the AFP to ‘surrender Palparan’. “He (Palparan) should face his charges in court and be imprisoned!” Mary Guy Portajada, secretary general of Desaparecidos said. Karapatan-Central Luzon also 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. “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,” Connie, Empeño’s mother, said. - Dennis Carcamo

Run for Your Life 2 (this is not a fun run)

Run for Your Life 2 (this is not a fun run)

Torture continues to be employed by the state, to break the spirit, dignity and will of those it had deemed “enemies of the state.” This can be attested to by many political detainees and survivors of abduction who were subjected to cruel and inhumane acts by state security forces. Many had the determination and will to get over the physical and mental pain of their experience; still many need support for their continued healing. Thousands who were disappeared were also probably tortured, while their families continue to be tormented with the uncertainty of their fate. To date, under the Aquino administration, there are already 96 victims of torture and 76 victims of extrajudicial killings, while 363 political prisoners continue to languish in detention centers. Nine have been forcibly disappeared.

Although the Philippines is a signatory to international human rights instruments such as the Convention against Torture, 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.

This June, the human rights community will also commemorate the abduction of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño six years ago. While their mothers have continued their search for justice when they filed criminal charges against Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. and his band of torturers, Palparan continues to evade the warrant of arrest issued against him amid the Aquino government’s lackluster efforts to arrest him. Palparan personifies the prevalent state of impunity in the country.

We would like to enjoin you to give tribute to the victims of torture and all rights abuses, and give voice to the call for justice and to end torture. We invite you to join us in “Run for your Life 2 (This is not a fun run),” an activity that aims to raise public awareness about torture, extrajudicial killings, the plight of political prisoners, human rights violations and the climate of impunity.