Jovito Palparan still held at Fort Bonifacio

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army is still awaiting a commitment order from the Malolos Regional Trial Court (RTC) to have retired Army major general Jovito Palparan Jr. transferred to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

“We are still waiting for a commitment order. Once it is furnished to us, he will be immediately shipped out here to the next place of his confinement,” Army spokesman Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva said yesterday.

Palparan was still detained at the Army custodial center at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City as of last night, more than a day after he and two co-accused soldiers – Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio – were found guilty of the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines student-activists Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan 12 years ago.

They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years in prison, and were ordered to indemnify the families of Cadapan and Empeño with P100,000 in civil damages and P200,000 in moral damages.

“As much as we want him already out of our watch, we cannot do so otherwise sans a  written commitment from the Bulacan RTC,” Villanueva said.

 ‘Reckoning will come’

Palparan’s conviction is proof that the day of reckoning will come to human rights violators, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said yesterday, as it lauded the decision of a Malolos RTC to convict him over the disappearance Empeño and Cadapan.

“(Palparan’s conviction) brings a flicker of hope amid the dark impunity that shrouds the country today. The court’s decision proves that the day of reckoning will come to those who trample upon human rights,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said.

“The road to justice for human rights victims may be long and difficult, but through the willpower of families, steadfastness of human rights warriors and the vigilance of the people, it can be achieved,” she added.

De Guia said the case against Palparan is just one of many human rights abuse cases that have yet to be resolved.

She urged the government to hold accountable the perpetrators and pursue justice for the victims.

“There must be unrelenting effort to bring all perpetrators to account in order to fully trump the culture of impunity – the key factor that facilitates the violation of rights and erosion of human dignity,” she said.

Protectors, not persecutors

For Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Palparan’s conviction should remind state security forces to act as protectors – not persecutors – of the people.

Trillanes yesterday said they were given the authority to go after enemies of the state “so this must not be abused.”

“Those abusing their powers now must be reminded that there will come a time when those who gave them orders will no longer be in positions of authority and can no longer protect them,” Trillanes said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon described the ruling of Judge Alexander Tamayo as “bright spots in an otherwise difficult judicial process.”

Former solicitor general Florin Hilbay also lauded Tamayo, whom he described as having “an enormous amount of courage” for convicting Palparan.

“The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” Hilbay said.

He also stressed that Tamayo’s decision proves that the rule of law still exists in the country.

“Despite the threats and challenges faced by our judiciary, we’re happy that there are those like Judge Tamayo who stands up for justice and the rule of law,” he said.

Palparan’s fate, according to Hilbay, should serve as warning to those who abuse authority because their day of reckoning will come.

Reds celebrate conviction

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) celebrated Palparan’s conviction on Monday and lauded the Malolos RTC that gave the guilty verdict to Palparan.

“The (CPP) and all revolutionary forces join the Filipino people in celebrating the conviction… of Gen. Jovito Palparan by the Malolos RTC for kidnapping and serious illegal detention over the enforced disappearance of UP activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006,” the CPP said in a statement posted on the website of the National Democratic Front.

“Palparan’s conviction is cause for celebration for the families of the victims, human rights defenders and mass organizations. It is a victory attained through relentless campaign for justice and retribution for all the fascist crimes perpetrated during the course of Gen. Palparan’s reign of terror especially under Gloria Arroyo’s Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and 2,” it added.

The CPP said Palparan’s conviction further strengthens the determination of thousands of his victims to demand further justice for all the murder, torture, abduction, rape, etc. directed and perpetrated by the most rabid implementor of Oplan Bantay Laya.

“Palparan’s conviction amplifies the Filipino people’s demand for Arroyo and all her fascist cohorts to be indicted, imprisoned, prosecuted and punished for the numerous crimes and rampant violation of human rights committed during their campaign of vicious suppression of democratic rights,” the CPP said. – With Janvic Mateo, Paolo Romero, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rhodina Villanueva