Mothers of disappeared UP students ask: When will Palparan be convicted?

MANILA - It has been a year since former army general Jovito Palparan was arrested, but the mothers of abducted UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan continue to ask - when will he be convicted?

Palparan is being linked to the disappearance of the two students. Their mothers - Concepcion Empeño and Erlinda Cadapan have yet to see real progress on the kidnapping with serious illegal detention case against Palparan and three other military men. 

“Nakasisiguro ba tayo na nakakulong talaga siya? Ang ganda na ulit ng itsura niya dahil sa tinatanggap niyang VIP treatment (Are we even sure he is detained? He looks good now because of the VIP treatment he receives),” said Concepcion of Palparan, who remains at the military base Fort Bonifacio after a court allowed his transfer from Bulacan Provincial Jail on alleged threats to his life. 

Erlinda also told the Aquino government to stop acting like a caregiver to Palparan. 

“It’s now a year and he is enjoying his life in a military camp. Our daughters have been kept incommunicado from their parents, sisters, brothers, relatives and friends for nine long years. Walang araw na hindi kami nag-alala sa kanilang kalusugan at kalagayan (There is not a single day that we did not worry about their health and situation),” said Erlinda. 

On July 24, the Office of the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Palparan for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of the Manalo brothers, Raymond and Reynaldo, who accused the general of their arrest and detention from February 2006 to August 2007.

The Manalo brothers stood witness to the abduction and torture of Karen and Sherlyn before the courts, leading to the filing of charges against Palparan in 2011. 

“Ang resulta ng kaso sa Ombudsman ay nagpapatunay na guilty si Palparan. Dapat umamin na siya na may kinalaman siya sa pagkawala ng mga anak namin. (The result of the case at the Ombudsman proves that Palparan is guilty. He should admit that he has a hand in the disappearance of our daughters),” Concepcion said.

However, Judge Teodora Gonzales, of Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14 recently inhibited from the case, after the lawyer of Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio accused the judge of partiality to the case. Osorio is one of the accused in the case. 

“She might have been threatened or harassed, we wouldn’t know. We are really dismayed that she leaves the case after four years. This just makes the wheels of justice roll slower,” Concepcion said. 

Palparan has denied all accusations against him.  (Desaparecidos)