Palparan in jail ‘not enough,’ as desaparecidos remain missing under Duterte

KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights

QUEZON CITY  — “We commemorate rather than celebrate because after a year Palparan was convicted, we continue searching. Palparan has not admitted, where are our daughters?”

Thus said the mothers of missing University of the Philippines students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan on the 13th year of their disappearance, and a year after retired major general Jovito Palparan was convicted for kidnapping with serious illegal detention for their disappearance.

Erlinda and Connie, mother of Sherlyn and Karen respectively, were joined in by friends, other families of desaparecidos, and students of the University of the Philippines in a gathering at UP Diliman today to remind the public that their continued disappearance deems a continued plea for justice.

“Palparan is in jail, and that is just right for the crimes he committed, for taking away our daughters and all others who went missing where the military ordered and implemented abductions under his command. But di sapat si Palparan (Palparan is not enough). His men are still out there. Those who think like him are still out there. Not Palparan, not one of his men has answered, where are our daughters?” said Linda Cadapan, mother of Sherlyn and chairperson of Desaparecidos, organization of families of victims of enforced disappearances.

Connie, mother of Karen, is in mourning, as she now remembers the day her daughter disappeared alone, after the recent death of her husband, Oscar Empeno.

“This is the first time that Oca is not here with me in remembering Karen, and seeking justice. We bore the pain together of searching for Karen, and taking care of our children who miss their sister. It pains me that he never got to see her daughter or know what happened to her, to his death,” said Connie Empeno.

Oca and Connie would attend hearings together, and spoke in public about their daughter. Connie would always say it was Oca who inspired both Karen’s love for studying and being aware and active on social issues.

“I miss them both, and I now hope that they shall find closure, the same way that we, the living survivors of desaparecidos, want closure once and for all while we are still here,” said Connie.