The country awakened to good news last Tuesday, with news of the arrest of former Maj. Gen. Jovito "The Butcher" Palparan. Palparan is accused of the serious illegal detention and forced disappearance of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006. A case was filed against Palparan and three other soldiers in 2011. Palparan tried to flee the country in 2011 through Clark International Airport, but was prevented from doing so. Since then, he went into hiding. For three years the former powerful and feared general cowered like a scared rat. Aside from the law, he was also hiding from militants and insurgents who allegedly wanted his head on a stake. Finally, through the help of an informant who is by the way two million pesos richer, he was finally captured.
He definitely was not his former self. He has lost considerable weight, unkempt and sporting a goatee. A shadow of his former military posture. Of course, the media pounced on him, giving him the opportunity to issue statements to the public. Statements that in my opinion, are full of it.
He stated that he wanted to give up a long time ago if not for the threats to his life, and that he wanted to face the accusations against him, as he maintains his innocence. He allegedly thanked the arresting officers for finally finding him, as life on the run was difficult. I sure hope so. In fact, I hope he lived those three years on the run in constant fear.
There is a response to all his recent statements. Flight is an indication of guilt, no matter how you look at it. If he was innocent, why did he try to leave? What is the difference of facing the accusations then and now? If there were threats to his life, wouldn't it have been better to be in custody, rather than be out in the open?
In 2006, both Empeño and Cadapan were taken by gunmen from their rented home in Hagonoy, Bulacan. A farmer who came to their aid was also taken. There were witnesses to the forceful taking. After missing for more than a month, the mothers of the two students sought the help of the Supreme Court to compel the military to release their daughters. But the military, claiming innocence, refused to cooperate. Then in 2007, a commission was formed to look into extrajudicial killings. It was here that Palparan was named as a prime suspect in the forced disappearances of several militants and activists. At this time, a witness surfaced to shed light on the whereabouts of both students. Himself detained by the Army 7th Infantry Division but able to escape, he claimed he saw the two students. He also described how they were chained, humiliated, violated and tortured. With this testimony, a case was filed against Palparan and three other soldiers. Two are in custody, while another remains at large. A clear indication that they all have something to hide.
With the capture of Palparan, I hope the case proceeds and proceeds fast, unlike the Maguindanao massacre which is practically in limbo. The parents of both students have shed tears of joy with news of the butcher's capture. But the whereabouts of their daughters are not yet known. After missing for eight years, many fear the worst. If found guilty, the butcher must answer for all these crimes.