Palparan denies link to 2 missing UP students

MANILA, Philippines - Retired Army major general Jovito Palparan appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday to face criminal charges for the alleged enforced disappearance (ED) of two University of the Philippines student-activists five years ago.

At the outset of DOJ’s preliminary investigation, Palparan denied having a hand in the alleged abduction and torture of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño although he was not ready to submit a formal answer to charges of arbitrary detention, serious physical injuries, maltreatment of prisoners, grave threats, grave coercion and rape filed by mothers of the two missing activists.

“I am strongly denying that. What will you admit if there is nothing (to admit)?” he told reporters in an interview before the start of the hearing.

Palparan claims he is not the berdugo (butcher) he has been depicted to be, believing such allegation came from his critics who wanted to destroy his name.

Palparan said was not ready to submit a counter-affidavit on the criminal charges before the DOJ panel chaired by Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera.

Saying he received a copy of the complaint only last Wednesday and tapped lawyer Narzal Mallares the next day. He asked for more time to submit his answer. The investigating panel granted his request and gave him until July 19 to file the counter-affidavit.

One of the five other respondents, Arnel Enriquez, also attended the hearing and claimed that he was implicated because he was mistaken for someone else.

The other respondents are Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac (commanding officer of the 56th Infantry Battalion), Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado (commanding officer of the 25th Infantry Battalion), 2Lt. Francis Mirabelle Samson, retired M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario, and retired M/Sgt. Donald Caigas (of the 24th Infantry Battalion).

Boac and Samson were only represented by their lawyers. Anotado was unable to attend because he is being treated for stage three colon cancer at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Victorio Luna General Hospital.

The DOJ panel said they have not served the subpoenas to Hilario and Caigas yet because they do not have the two respondents’ correct addresses. A representative from the AFP’s Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (J1) then said that they will verify the last known addresses of the two retired military officials.

Navera, head of the panel, also asked the J1 to check whether Caigas is still alive. “Our process server was told by the barangay people that he (Caigas) is deceased,” said Navera.

The complainants, for their part, also asked the DOJ panel to place the respondents in the Bureau of Immigration’s watch list. The DOJ did not immediately act on the request.

The AFP sent its Human Rights Office head Col. Domingo Tutaan Jr. to observe in the proceedings. After the hearing, he assured the DOJ of military’s cooperation with the preliminary investigation.

“Our emphasis here is to put a just resolve to the case. Definitely, there will be no cover-ups,” Tutaan told reporters after the hearing.  – With Alexis Romero