Disappearance of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño

Sherlyn Cadapan
Born Metro Manila, Philippines
Disappeared June 26, 2006
Hagonoy, Bulacan, Philippines
Status Missing for 12 years, 3 months and 17 days
Cause of death Homicide
Karen Empeño
Born (1983-07-22)July 22, 1983
Metro Manila, Philippines
Disappeared June 26, 2006 (aged 22)
Hagonoy, Bulacan, Philippines
Status Missing for 12 years, 3 months and 17 days
Cause of death Homicide

Sherlyn Cadapan (birthdate unknown ~ June 26, 2006) and Karen Empeño (July 22, 1983 ~ June 26, 2006) were students who both disappeared in Hagonoy, Bulacan on June 26, 2006.

Disappearance

On June 26, 2006 Cadapan and Empeño who were both alumni of the University of the Philippines Diliman were abducted by suspected military men in Hagonoy, Bulacan, during the tenure of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,[1] and were accused of being members of the Communist Party of the Philippines. This incident took place at a time when Central Luzon was being driven by a fierce conflict between the government and the communist New People's Army.[2] According to the official investigation, eyewitness Raymond Manolo stated that Palparan tortured Sherlyn by hitting her mouth and punching her breasts and stomach area until they bled. Palparan also slammed wooden planks against the victim so that Sherlyn would admit she is a communist, while Sherlyn kept on saying that she wanted to go home to her parents. Manolo also noted that he saw the military stealing from nearby villagers, burning down dead bodies using gasoline, and shooting a man who was riding a carabao due to farm work. Manolo's account also noted that on April 2007, he saw Sherlyn lying naked on a chair that had fallen on the floor, her wrist tied together, one leg tied down, while being hit by wooden planks, electrocuted, and afterwards being half-drowned. The military also played with her body, poking wooden objects inside Sherlyn's vagina, after finding out that Sherlyn was going to write a letter to somebody. Sherlyn, due to intense torture, blurted out that the letter was Karen's idea. The military then dragged Karen out from her cell, stripped her naked, tied her wrists and ankles, beaten, water-tortured, burned with cigarettes, and raped with pieces of wood. Manolo afterwards washed the two women's clothes, including their panties drenched with blood. Manolo also noted that the bucket of piss of the two women were filled with 'chunks of blood'.[3][4]

Aftermath

The leftist political party Bagong Alyansang Makabayan has accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines of being involved in the women's disappearance and alleged deaths. Former general and former congressman Jovito Palparan–known as Berdugo ("Butcher") for his alleged involvement[5]–was implicated by the Philippine government in 2011 for kidnapping, torture, and murder.[6][7][8][9] He was arrested for the disappearances in 2014.[5] Palparan ran for senator in the 2016 elections, but lost.[10] On September 17, 2018, Palparan was sentenced to life imprisonment, after being convicted of his involvement in the disappearances.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2 UP students still missing after 7 years". Rappler. June 28, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan: Fates Intertwined by a Desire to Serve the Masses - Bulatlat". Bulatlat. 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
  3. ↑ https://www.rappler.com/nation/37707-most-wanted-man-country
  4. ↑ https://twitter.com/thysz/status/1041565418110898177
  5. 1 2 "Philippine Ex-general Wanted in Activists Disappearance is Arrested". The New York Times. August 12, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Hunt on for Palparan | Inquirer News". newsinfo.inquirer.net. 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  7. ↑ "Hunt on for Palparan - Yahoo!". ph.news.yahoo.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  8. ↑ "Manhunt launched for retired general Jovito Palparan | Sun.Star". sunstar.com.ph. 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  9. ↑ "Manhunt on for 'The Butcher' - ucanews.com". ucanews.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  10. ↑ https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/10/16/15/palparan-son-files-coc-dad
  11. ↑ "Jovito Palparan found guilty". Rappler. September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.