UP makes bonfire anew, this time for Palparan’s arrest

Raisa Serafica

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UP makes bonfire anew, this time for Palparan’s arrest
The notorious anti-communist general is charged for the abduction of 2 UP students. Linda Cadapan, mother of a victim, leads the lighting of the bonfire
MANILA, Philippines – For the second time in a week, students of the University of the Philippines made a bonfire at the Sunken Garden in Diliman, Quezon City, on Tuesday, August 12.
This time, it was to celebrate the arrest of retired Major General Jovito Palparan.  
Known to human rights activists as “berdugo” (butcher), Palparan was arrested in Sta. Mesa, after almost 3 years of evading arrest. He and 3 other military officials are facing charges for the abduction of UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006.
Called “The Butcher” by the leftist movement, he is notorious for his tireless and massive counter-insurgency campaign that targetted the mass base of the New People’s Army.

The retired major general went into hiding in 2011 when the Bulacan regional trial court issued an arrest warrant in connection to the disappearance of the 2 UP students.

Celebration?

Linda Cadapan, mother of one of the abducted state scholars, led the lighting of the bonfire. For her, Palparan’s arrest doesn’t necessarily mean the culmination of their 8-year-long search for justice. 

Matagal na siyang (Jovito Palparan) hinahanap, kumbaga nakahakbang ng isa dahil naaresto siya. Pero mabibigyan na ba tayo kaagad ng hustisya dahil nahuli na si Palparan?” Cadapan asked. 

(We’ve been searching for Jovito Palparan for the longest time. His arrest is a step forward. However, do we immediately get justice with his arrest?)

Karapatan, an activist human rights group, added that the arrest of Palparan was “long overdue.”  

President Benigno Aquino III raised a P2 million bounty for the capture of the retired general, one of the most wanted fugitive in the country. However, the past 3 years haD been a fruitless search for Palparan.

Long haul

Cadapan described the 8 long years of search for her daughter Sherlyn as the hardest ordeal in her life. 

Halos hindi na kaya ng aking katawan dahil mabigat na gawain talaga ang paghahanap. Siyempre may edad na at may sakit. Nanghihina din ako dahil sa galit na nararamdaman ko,” Cadapan shared. 

(My body almost gave up because it wasn’t easy to look for my daughter. I am old and sick. Anger has also affected my health.)

Despite all the challenges, Cadapan remains optimistic that she will someday be reunited with her daughter Sherlyn. “‘Yan ang mahalagang pinakahakbang. ang mas mahalaga ay mahanap namin sila.” (That’s the most important thing – for us to finally find our daughters) – Rappler.com 

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Raisa Serafica

Raisa Serafica is the Unit Head of Civic Engagement of Rappler. As the head of MovePH, Raisa leads the on ground engagements of Rappler aimed at building a strong community of action in the Philippines. Through her current and previous roles at Rappler, she has worked with different government agencies, collaborated with non-governmental organizations, and trained individuals mostly on using digital technologies for social good.