MANILA, Philippines (Updated 2:17 p.m.) — The mothers of disappeared UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan welcomed the conviction of retired Army general Jovito Palparan Jr.
Palparan, whom activists have dubbed "The Butcher", was found guilty of kidnapping and serious illegal detention and has been sentenced to reclusion perpetua — imprisonment for between 20 to 30 years with a chance for parole after 30 years.
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"Not in a military camp, not in some special detention. We want him in jail, like any other criminal. Let him rot in jail," the mothers of Empeño and Cadapan said.
Concepcion Empeño, mother of Karen, expressed her gratitude to the courts that "recognized the truth" from testimonies of witnesses, who also experienced the same suffering as the two disappeared UP students.
Empeño also thanked those who supported them in seeking justice for the victims of killings, disappearances and other rights violations perpetrated by state forces under Palparan's leadership.
Palparan had been a fugitive for three years before being captured in Sta. Mesa in 2014. He reportedly sought refuge in Bataan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Cagayan de Oro prior to his arrest.
Linda Cadapan, mother of Sherlyn, noted that the conviction of Palparan is significant now that the "masterminds" of the counterinsurgency campaign against activists and rights advocates is back in power, particularly House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former president."
"We hope that Palparan’s conviction will be used to shed light on the fate of desaparecidos under his watch. Until then, we shall continue searching for our daughters, and together will the families of all those killed and disappeared, we shall continue searching for justice," Cadapan said.
Palparan commanded the Philippine Army's 8th and 7th Infantry divisions during the Arroyo administration, where there were 206 victims of enforced disappearences, according to human rights group Karapatan.
Karapatan, in a statement on Palparan's conviction, said it was "a step forward for justice, though partial for so long as Karen and Sherlyn remain missing and numerous other violations remain unresolved."
Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, said the conviction "rekindles hope among the families of many other victims human rights violations, now and in the past. It should also serve as a reminder to state security forces that justice and the law will catch up with them sooner or later."
Pardon still possible
Karapatan deputy secretary general Roneo Clamor added: "It has been 12 years, and though we welcome this decision, justice delayed is still justice denied. We want to see him rot in jail, not in the company of fellow butchers who share the same contempt for human rights."
He added that "with GMA (Arroyo) holding a key position in government, we are called on to remain vigilant. The friendship of Duterte and Arroyo can mean eventual pardon or reprieve for Palparan despite his conviction. After all, Duterte’s support for Arroyo’s resurrection is indicative that he willingly abets plunderers and murderers in his government."
Palparan can still bring the case to the Court of Appeals and, from there, to the Supreme Court.
NUPL: 'Cocky perpetrators' of rights violations can be held accountable
The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers, counsel for Cadapan and Empeño, sees Palparan's conviction as a signal to all human rights violators.
"His conviction sends the message that cocky perpetrators of hideous human rights violations will meet their match in the fortitude of the mothers, the strength of the mass movement, the courage of human rights defenders and the value of good lawyering for the people," Edre Olalia of the NUPL said.
"We really do wish he face perdition that he brought upon himself. And that his conviction be a signal to all other human rights violators especially of the worst kinds that rightful retribution will come in time," the lawyers said in a statement. — Patricia Lourdes Viray