Palparan aide linked to abduction of UP activists

The mothers of missing University of the Philippines students Sheryln Cadapan and Karen Empeño have linked a close-in security of retired Army general Jovito Palparan to the abduction of their daughters five years ago. In a joint reply-affidavit answering the denials of the respondents impleaded in the case, the lawyers for Erlinda Cadapan and Concepcion Empeño said the still unnamed security aide should be among the "John Does" that took part in the abduction in June 2006. The reply-affidavit was submitted on Wednesday before the Department of Justice panel handling the preliminary investigation into the criminal complaint against Palparan, his former subordinates and other still unnamed respondents. Witness Wilfredo Ramos has claimed that the aide was present at the DOJ preliminary investigation hearing last July 19. Ramos added that the aide was "intimidating and eyeing him" during the proceedings. In their reply-affidavit, the mothers said that the aide should be impleaded as one of the "John Does" in the criminal complaint. They also attached in their affidavit a document bearing the photograph of the aide. In Wednesday's hearing, the lawyers also asked the DOJ panel to order the military to have the security aide named. Granting the request, DOJ panel head Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera ordered Armed Forces of the Philippines' Provost Marshal General, Col. Herbert Yambing, to produce the identity of the aide. In response, Yambing confirmed that Palparan's security aide is an active member of the Philippine Army and is assigned by the AFP's Headquarters Service Group to assist the retired general when he is attending legal proceedings. Yambing then assured the DOJ panel he will coordinate with the complainants' lawyers in identifying the aide. Palparan was not present in Wednesday's hearing. He earlier denied he ordered his men to abduct the two students, who were suspected of being communist rebels. Palparan headed the 7th Infantry Division, which supervises the 24th Infantry Battalion and the 56th Infantry Battalion. The 24th IB is assigned to Bataan and Zambales while the latter is assigned to Bulacan and Pampanga. [See story: Accusations not synonymous with guilt] In a complaint filed last May, the mothers of Cadapan and Empeño alleged that the military units carried out the abduction of their daughters five years ago. Mistaken identity Also on Wednesday, the complainants' lawyers informed the DOJ panel that respondent Arnel E. Enriquez was wrongly impleaded in the criminal charges. They said that according to witness Alberto Ramirez, Enriquez was not the same "Arnel Enriquez" that took part in the abduction. "Alberto Ramirez confirmed that when he came face to face with Arnel E. Enriquez during the second preliminary investigation of this case held on July 19, said Arnel E. Enriquez was not the same person who introduced himself as 'Arnel Enriquez' and who interrogated him at the Army detachment at Barangay Mercado, Hagonoy, Bulacan, on the night of June 28, 2006," said the reply-affidavit. They then said they will not pose objections to the removal of the "real" Arnel E. Enriquez from the list of respondents. They only requested that a certain alias "Arnel Enriquez" be retained as one of the respondents. Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Enriquez expressed relief that he has been exonerated. "Hindi naman talaga ako yun. Okay naman ako. Ayos lang," he said. — LBG, GMA News