Military to cooperate with court to shed light on missing activists

MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Tuesday that it would “fully cooperate” in the case of missing student activists Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan.

Colonel Domingo Tutaan Jr., chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Human Rights Office gave this assurance during a briefing with reporters at Camp Aguinaldo.

He said that they will be provide the panel with information on the area of operations of the 7th Infantry Division and the 24th Infantry Battalion from 2006 to 2007 at the next hearing on August 3.

Of the seven respondents to the case, Tutaan said two officers were still active— Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Anotado and Lieutenant Francis Mirabelle Samson. The rest, he said, had retired and one of them had already died: Master Sergeant Donald Caigas.

He said that they had provided the panel with documents on Caigas’ death on Tuesday. Tutaan disclosed that Caigas had retired before he died of sickness sometime last year.

Empeño, Cadapan and their farmer companion Manuel Merino were allegedly abducted by the military in Hagonoy, Bulacan back in June 26, 2006.

Their mothers Erlinda Cadapan and Concepcion Empeño had filed complaints for rape, serious physical injuries, arbitrary detention, maltreatment of prisoners, grave threats, grave coercion and violation of Republic Act No. 7438 against retired Major General Jovito Palparan, and several others.