Moms of Palparan's victims fear pardon for 'The Butcher'
MANILA, Philippines —The mothers of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño—students kidnapped by Jovito Palparan in 2006—are afraid that “The Butcher” may be freed through a pardon by President Rodrigo Duterte.
It took twelve years for Erlinda Cadapan and Concepcion Empeño to see their daughters’ kidnapper sentenced to jail for kidnapping and serious illegal detention. But, on Tuesday, they admitted to being hounded by fear that the Duterte administration will let Palparan out of prison.
Empeño, speaking on ANC’s “Early Edition,” pointed out that former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is now House speaker. “Ito pang ating President Duterte, baka gagawa sila ng paraan para makawala sa krimen na nakaatang sa kanya (Palparan),” she added.
(Then we have our president. They could find ways to let Palparan escape accountablity for his crime.)
Palparan commanded different units in the Philippine Army while Arroyo was commander-in-chief, including the 7th Infantry Division that operates in Central Luzon, where students Cadapan and Empeño disappeared in 2006. He has been blamed for 206 victims of enforced disappearances.
None of the missing have surfaced to this day.
Freeing Palparan within president's power
Lawyer Josalee Deinla of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers—private prosecutors in the case—said that Duterte can grant Palparan a presidential pardon.
“It is within his power...the crime that was committed by Palparan, which we hope will not happen,” Deinla added.
A presidential pardon, when granted, exempts the individual from punishment of the law on the crime he was convicted for but does not erase the conviction.
Palparan may also bring his case to a higher court: To the Court of Appeals and to the Supreme Court.
Cadapan said that Duterte seems to favor the military over civilians, but she is hoping that the president will not favor Palparan.
“There is a possibility that he will grant pardon. I will ask the president to prioritize his fellow Filipinos and let this criminal be punished,” she added in Filipino.
Palparan, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio are facing a punishment of reclusion perpetua, or a minimum of 20 years of jail time. They will be eligible for parole on the thirtieth year of imprisonment.
The Malacañang on Monday said that it respects the court’s ruling. “We would want justice to be done to the victims,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Deinla said that Palparan’s conviction carries a simple message to human rights violators: “Rightful retribution will come to them and they will be made to account for their crimes, if not now, then later.”
“Justice, even if it is long denied, [and comes] in fragments, we still welcome it best affirmation of what we stand for,” she added.
The two mothers said that they would only find closure when they find the bodies of their daughters.
Empeño said that so long as she is alive, she would wait for the return of her child. — Kristine Joy Patag
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