Family of missing UP student still hopeful to find kin

MANILA, Philippines - Almost two years after her daughter was reportedly abducted, Erlinda Cadapan has still not given up hope that missing University of the Philippines student Sherlyn Cadapan will someday be found. “Patuloy ko siyang hinahanap (I’m still looking for her)," said Cadapan in an interview with GMANews.TV. “Walang pinaabot sa akin kung anong nangyayari, complete denial ng suspected perpetrators (No word reaches me, except complete denial from suspected perpetrators)." Cadapan also lamented lack of support her family is getting from the government in terms of locating her missing daughter. “Walang naitutulong ang gobyerno sa akin kaya dito na ko ngayon humihingi ng tulong sa Karapatan (The government has not been able to help me so now I’m seeking aid from Karapatan)," Cadapan said, referring to human rights group Karapatan which keeps track of extrajudicial killings in the country and constantly calls on the government to solve all cases. Militant groups claimed that Cadapan and fellow UP student Karen Empeño, who was a member of the League of Filipino Students, were abducted by the military in Hagonoy, Bulacan on June 26, 2006 while doing volunteer work for peasants. Cadapan was two months pregnant then. In May last year, a body believed to belong to either Cadapan or Empeño was found in Pangasinan, but dental records proved otherwise. A month before, it was reported that Cadapan resurfaced May last year to visit her mother-in-law, only to leave again with two women and four men after getting some clothes. “Kung anu man ang kanilang hina-hinala na may kasalanan ang aking anak, lagi paulit ulit kong sinasabi na idaan nila sa tamang proseso. Hindi sa ganon na dudukutin at itatago sa akin (If they have think my daughter has done something wrong, I always say they should follow the due process. My daughter shouldn’t be abducted and hidden from me)," Cadapan said. In a report released November last year, UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston said military forces, not communist insurgents as claimed by the government, are the ones most likely behind the sudden disappearances of activists, journalists, and civil society leaders. The military, however, has denied any involvement, and in the 8th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva , Switzerland last June 7 Philippine Representative Erlinda Basilio dismissed Alston’s report on extrajudicial killings as “inaccurate, highly selective, and biased." “Prof. Alston was unduly selective, readily accepting information from specific leftist groups while easily dismissing information provided not only by government agencies but also from other human rights defenders and government critics who do not fall under the persuasion of his favored group - the Communist Party of the Philippines / New People's Army/ National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF)," said Basilio. The government’s dismissal of the Alston report has drawn the ire of militant groups. Members of the Philippine UPR Watch delegation to Switzerland said they are “appalled at the way the Philippine government fiercely attacked Mr. Alston. They have resorted to denials, twisting of facts, unabashed name calling and even ad hominem arguments to the conclusions and observations of Prof. Alston." The delegation includes Fr. Rex Reyes of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines , Marie Hilao Enriquez of Karapatan, lawyer Edre Olalia of NUPL, Donnie Mapanao of Migrante-Switzerland, Trisha Garvida of Karapatan and union leader Ed Cubelo. Included as well is Edith Burgos of Desaparecidos, wife of press freedom fighter Jose Burgos whose son Jonas was abducted in April 28, 2007 at Hapag Kainan Restaurant in Ever Gotesco Mall in Quezon City. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV