Nais ko ring maglinis ng puntod katulad ninyo.
Makihalubilo sa mga kamag anak
habang inaalala ang mga panahong magkasama
ng nasa puntod na binisita.
Nais ko ring magalay ng bulaklak sa nitso.
alam kong kakaiba ang hiling ko
di katulad ng karamihan na hangga’t maari
ay walang nitsong pupuntahan.
Nais ko ring magtirik ng kandila
habang tumutulo ang luha sa lupa.
Pero wala ako/kaming puntod,
pinagkakait ang panahong magluksa.
Kadalasan ang puntod
ang sinasabing katapusan.
Pero minsan sa aming walang puntod
ang nitso ang simula ng katarungan.
Kami ay walang puntod.
-November 1
(Pasintabi kay Ipe Soco na may kahintulad na pamagat na tula. Dinukot ng mga militar ang nanay ni Ipe. Katulad ng kapatid kong dinukot na hanggang sa kasaluluyan ay di pa rin natatagpuan)
Retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan faces 20 to 40 years imprisonment after being found guilty of kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the 2006 disappearance of University of the Philippines UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño.
In today’s long-awaited promulgation, Branch 15 of the Malolos Regional Trial Court found the notorious Philippine Army officer guilty of the crime, along with co-accused Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Anotado and Sgt. Edgardo Osorio.
Judge Alexander Tamayo also ordered the three to each pay P100,000 in civil indemnity and P200,000 for moral damages to the families of the victims.
Called “The Butcher” by activists and human rights workers, Palparan is believed to responsible for numerous other human rights violations throughout the Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Eastern Visayas and Southern Mindanao regions where he was assigned by the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government.
Empeño and Cadapan, however, remain missing.
Photo by Jinky Mendoza / Kodao
Elated
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), private prosecutors to the case, immediately expressed elation over the verdict.
“We are extremely elated that justice has finally caught up with the coward Butcher. The law and evidence is not only on our side this time around but we are on the side of truth and justice,” the group said.
The lawyers added that despite tremendous odds and difficulties, the suffering mothers of Sherlyn and Karen as well as their supporters and lawyers have “overcome what seemed to be a wild shot at a rare chance to make Gen. Palparan and his likes accountable.”
“[May] his conviction be a signal to all other human rights violators especially of the worst kinds that rightful retribution will come in time,” the NUPL said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
Members of Desaparecidos (Families of the Disappeared for Justice) and other progressive groups commemorated the International Day of the Disappeared in a gathering at the Plaridel Hall, College of Mass Communications of University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City Thursday, August 30.
They paid tribute to the families and friends of the Desaparecidos from the Marcos era up to the present who are until now looking for their loved ones.
Mrs. Editha Burgos, mother of the missing activist Jonas Burgos, said that enforced disappearances, aside from being politically motivated and state sponsored, are now being used by the Duterte government on its so-called war on drugs.
There are many cases of disappearances especially the poor under Oplan Tokhang of the Philippine National Police, Mrs. Burgos said.
She added that the effect of enforced disappearance is rampant because it is a continuing crime not only at the time when person was disappeared but, more importantly, on its impact to the victim’s family, friends and even to society.
Mrs. Concepcion Empeño, mother of missing UP student Karen, cast doubt on the upcoming verdict of the court against Jovito Palparan, primary accused on her daughter’s abduction and disappearance, along with Sherlyn Cadapan and Manuel Merino.
Mrs. Empeño said that the supposed promulgation was set on May but has been delayed for several months already.
The event was also the launching of UP RISE! (UP Against Tyranny and Dictatorship), a multi-sectoral alliance based in UP committed to unite against the tyrannical rule and fascist dictatorship of the Duterte regime.
The group denounced the recent visit of Imee Marcos, daughter of the late dictator, to the University last August 25 in a reunion with Kabataang Barangay colleagues.
It said the Filipino people will never move on and never forget the atrocities of the Marcos family.
Isaac Punzalan, RISE UP convenor, said that the unholy alliance of the Marcoses, Arroyos and Duterte will intensify the attacks against the Filipino people.
“We are ready to embrace the historic role of being the forefront of the struggle for genuine change”, Punzalan declared. (Report and video by Joseph Cuevas)
https://kodao.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/desap.jpg10111500Kodao Productionshttps://kodao.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/kodao.pngKodao Productions2018-09-01 13:00:502018-09-01 13:00:50Families commemorate International Day of the Disappeared
