Raps vs UP students’ abductors pressed

MANILA, Philippines—As the country marked the International Day to End Violence Against Women, a women rights’ group on Friday pressed the government to indict military officials over the abduction of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan.

Tanggol Bayi (Defend Women) said it was about time President Benigno Aquino III and the Department of Justice (DOJ) fast-track the filing of charges against the mastermind and suspects in the abduction of Empeño and Cadapan.

Tanggol Bayi convenor Cristina Palabay lamented that the criminal case against retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan and other officers was submitted for resolution on the third week of October, but the DOJ has yet to act on this.

‘Prosecute violators’

“[Former President Gloria Macapagal] Arroyo and her henchman Palparan should immediately be prosecuted and put behind bars for these violations,” she said.

Cadapan and Empeño were abducted from a rented apartment in Hagonoy, Bulacan at dawn of June 26, 2006, supposedly while doing research work for peasants. Both are believed to be activists.

Palabay also observed that there were no significant developments in civil cases filed against Arroyo by the United Church of Christ of the Philippines and the “Morong 43” for human rights violations, and in the criminal case filed by Edita Burgos, mother of missing activist Jonas Burgos, against military officials.

Jonas was snatched by a group of men and a woman from the Ever Gotesco mall in Quezon City and forced into a car on April 28, 2007.

He has not been seen since then.

Victim count

According to the group, there were at least 1,206 victims of summary or arbitrary execution  in the Philippines during the nine-year Arroyo administration.

There were 153 women, including Empeño and Cadapan, and 476 human rights defenders.