"Witness Raymond Manalo remained consistent and unshakable despite Palparan lawyers’ attempt to discredit him," Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general said after the hearing of the trial of People of the Philippines vs. Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito S. Palparan Jr."This is because Raymond speaks of the truth," Palabay added.
"Witness Raymond Manalo remained consistent and unshakable despite Palparan lawyers’ attempt to discredit him," Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general said after the hearing of the trial of People of the Philippines vs. Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito S. Palparan Jr."This is because Raymond speaks of the truth," Palabay added.
Manalo testified yesterday in a hearing at the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14 on the disappearance of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan. Raymond Manalo, among other witnesses, claimed that the Philippine Army, under the command of then Maj. Gen. Palparan Jr., abducted, kept and tortured Cadapan and Empeño. Manalo once again took the witness stand for cross examination by Palparan’s lawyer, Atty. Diosab Formilleza.
"Not being able to break the consistencies of Manalo’s accounts, Formilleza invented inconsistencies in Manalo’s affidavits by picking one statement/sentence out of context and comparing another statement from a different affidavit," Palabay said. Manalo was able to clarify issues, despite dirty attempts of Formilleza to muddle his testimony.
He tried to confuse Raymond in identifying Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, also one of the accused, by pointing another accused, Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio. Manalo pointed to Anotado, saying he saw the latter thrice at the covert army camp in Limay, Bataan. Manalo said Anotado talked to him and his brother Reynaldo to go back to the fold.
Atty. Formilleza asked Manalo for proof that he knew the victims Cadapan and Empeño during captivity. "Did you have any pictures together?" the defense asked.
“Such court antics of Palparan and his lawyer indicate their failure to destroy the credibility of Manalo and other witnesses in the Capadan-Empeño case. Once again, Palparan’s accountability on the disappearance and torture of the two students is firmly established,” Palabay ended.