Palparan denies hand in disappearance of 2 UP activists

(Updated 12:41 p.m.) A Department of Justice panel of prosecutors on Friday began its preliminary investigation on the criminal complaint against retired and active military officials who were accused of having a hand in the 2006 disappearance of two student activists from the University of the Philippines. Retired Army general Jovito Palparan, one of the lead respondents, denied he ordered his subordinates to abduct Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, who disappeared in 2006 on suspicion they were communist rebels. Speaking to reporters before the DOJ panel's preliminary investigation hearing, Palparan said: "I am strongly denying that. What will you admit if there is nothing [to admit]?" He added that his critics only label him as a berdugo (butcher) to give him a bad reputation. "Ang alam ko diyan sa berdugo, hindi na mabubura yan sa isip nila. Ibebenta nila yan sa media at sa publiko to put me down para maging credible ang accusation nila sa akin. And that is also against the Armed Forces and the government," said Palparan, who also served as party-list representative from 2007 to 2010. During the May 2010 elections, Palparan ran but lost in the senatorial race. Despite his public denial, Palparan said he cannot yet submit to the DOJ panel his counter-affidavit to formally address the charges agaisnt him. The former general said he needed more time to submit the document because he received the subpoena only last Wednesday. "I still looked for a lawyer and I only found one yesterday," he said. Criminal raps The panel, led by Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, then agreed to give Palparan and the other respondents until July 19 to submit their respective counter-affidavits. The DOJ panel is conducting a preliminary probe into the criminal complaint filed last May by the mothers of the two missing activisits. A preliminary inquiry seeks to determine if there is probable cause that warrants the filing of the appropriate criminal case before the proper court. Aside from Palparan, the other respondents impleaded in the complaint are:

Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac, commanding officer of the 56th Infantry Battalion;

Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, commanding officer of the 25th Infantry Battalion;

2Lt. Francis Mirabelle Samson of the 7th Infantry Division;

Arnel Enriquez, private citizen;

M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario of the 24th Infantry Battalion (retired);

/Sgt. Donald Caigas of the 24th Infantry Battalion (retired). The respondents are facing charges of arbitrary detention, maltreatment of prisoners, grave threats, and grave coercion, rape, and serious physical injuries. The complainants, through their lawyers from the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL), also asked the DOJ panel to place the respondents in the Bureau of Immigration's watch list. They filed their motion during Friday's proceedings. Friday's hearing On Friday, only Palparan and Enriquez were able to attend the hearing. Palparan was accompanied by lawyer Narzal Mallares while Enriquez, who claimed that he was implicated due to a mistaken identity, was assisted by lawyer Florence Sta. Ana of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO). Boac and Samson were only represented by their lawyers. Anotado was unable to attend because he is being treated for Stage 3 colon cancer at the AFP's Victorio Luna General Hospital. The DOJ panel said they have not served the subpoenas to Hilario and Caigas yet because the addresses provided by the complainants may have been wrong. A representative from the AFP's Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (J1) then said that they will verify the last known addresses of the two retired military officials. Navera, head of the panel also asked the J1 to check whether Caigas is still alive. "Our process sever was told by the barangay people that he (Caigas) is deceased," said Navera. AFP vows no cover-up Meanwhile, AFP Human Rights Office head Col. Domingo Tutaan Jr. assured that the military will cooperate with the DOJ in the course of the preliminary probe. Tutaan and his subordinates stood as observers during Friday's hearing. After the proceedings, Tutaan told reporters that the AFP will work "in order to put a just resolve" to the abudction of the two missing activists. "My team is here simply to manifest to the DOJ panel that the AFP will be in collaboration with them. If there is something where the AFP could help, we will be there to assist. Our emphasis here is to put a just resolve tothe case. Definitely, there will be no cover-ups," said Tutaan. — RSJ, GMA News