Women rights group hit Pnoy inaction in Palparan case

MANILA, Philippines - A women's rights group has scored the Aquino government for its “lackadaisical” stance in arresting retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan for the abduction, rape and disappearance of UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, after nearly a year since the court issued warrant for his arrest.

Tanggol Bayi spokesperson Cristina Palabay said authorities merely have to implement the arrest warrant.

"The mothers, their lawyers, the witnesses, and human rights organizations have  done their part already in filing these charges, while you (President Aquin) have yet to exercise your responsibility in arresting Palparan,” Palabay said.

The group made the call in line with the celebration of International Day to End Violence Against Women.

Palabay also  criticized Aquino’s silence on the massacre of pregnant Juvy Capion, an indigenous people’s leader and anti-mining activist, and her two children in Tampakan, South Cotabato, which is an issue raised by several local and international groups.

Rights group Karapatan said out of the 114 victims of extrajudicial killings under Aquino, from July 2010 to September 30, 2012 data, 15 are women and girl-children, with the Capion massacre as the latest in the string of killings.

"These laws and treaties are nothing but mere papers if the government does not give an ounce of recognition of the rights violations of its state security forces against women and it fails to give them justice,” Palabay said. - Dennis Carcamo