Karapatan welcomes the resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ) finding probable cause on the cases filed against Ret. Maj. General Jovito Palparan, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, Master Sergeant Rizal Hilario and Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio with two counts of kidnapping and serious Illegal Detention for the abduction of two missing UP students, Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006. The DOJ released the resolution on December 15.
Karapatan welcomes the resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ) finding probable cause on the cases filed against Ret. Maj. General Jovito Palparan, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, Master Sergeant Rizal Hilario and Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio with two counts of kidnapping and serious Illegal Detention for the abduction of two missing UP students, Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006. The DOJ released the resolution on December 15.
Clamor said that "this is a step towards attaining justice to the victims, their families who initiated the filing of the case against Palparan because of the P-Noy administration’s inaction on the human rights violations under GMA." The mothers of Sherly and Karen, supported by rights and lawyers groups, filed the complaint last May.
"We call on the DOJ to immediately issue a Hold Departure Order against Palparan and the other respondents. We challenge Chief Justice Corona and the rest of the Supreme Court Justices not to obstruct any measure to ensure that Palparan, who is GMA’s favorite ‘butcher’, is immediately arrested and ends up in jail for his long list of crimes against the people,” said Jigs Clamor, deputy secretary general of Karapatan.
The Supreme Court earlier issued a temporary restraining order on the issuance of Watch list and Hold Departure Orders.
Karapatan also calls on Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to act promptly on the filing of the case with the Sandiganbayan.
The families of the missing students have long been waiting for the resolution to come out. We should not give any opportunity to Palparan to evade justice. Karapatan demands for the speedy disposition of the case. No dilatory tactics should be allowed nor special treatment be accorded to Palparan and his officers like what was accorded to GMA,” Clamor concluded. ###