“He was not sure of his answers. During cross-examination, he appears not to know the content of his affidavit, which, for me, is poorly written. His answers were not firm.” – Mrs. Connie Empeño, mother of Karen
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio, one of the accused in the abduction of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, said that he was about to leave for Liberia in Africa when the abduction took place.
While Osorio admitted that he was part of the 15th Intelligence Service Unit of the Intelligence Security Group of the Philippine Army from January 2006 to April 2009, he claimed that at the time of the abduction, he was fixing his “papers” and “medical clearance” as he was being assigned to Liberia for a peacekeeping mission.
His passport, which was presented as evidence before the Regional Trial Court Branch 14, stated that he left for Liberia on July 13, 2006 and arrived there the following day. Osorio said he went back to the country on Jan. 27, 2007 and returned to his duties as part of the Intelligence Service Unit.
Mrs. Erlinda Cadapan, mother of Sherlyn, said Osorio’s statement showed that he was still in the country at the time of the abduction.
“He was not sure of his answers. During cross-examination, he appears not to know the content of his affidavit, which, for me, is poorly written. His answers were not firm,” Mrs. Connie Empeño, mother of Karen, told Bulatlat.com.
“His statements were not clear. It appears to me that he is lying. If you speak the truth, you would say the same thing over and over again, no matter how a question is framed,” Mrs. Cadapan added.
Osorio, along with Gen. Jovito Palparan, Col. Felipe Anotado, Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio and Master Sgt. Rizal Hilario are charged with kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of Karen and Sherlyn on June 26, 2006.
Their families and friends have been looking for them for nearly eight years now.
Still no witnesses
The military was supposed to present two witnesses during the May 12 hearing. Though Col. Anotado was present, his lawyer Abner Torres said they plan to provide two more witnesses and that they are reserving his client as the last witness for the defense.
Torres reiterated that they are having difficulties in ensuring the “physical presence” of soldiers during hearings as they are being assigned and re-assigned all over the country. Each deployment, he added, would last for about a year or two.
“It is another sad day for us. The military believes that they have control over us and they can do as they wish. The subpoena for the accused has long been sent to them. The military keeps on citing excuses why their supposed witnesses could not attend the hearings,” Mrs. Cadapan said.
“It is the duty of the lawyer to ensure that their soldier-witnesses would be able attend the hearings as it has been ordered by the court,” she added.
The two mothers have earlier assailed the “delaying tactics” of the military.
The last two remaining hearings for the abduction case are on June 9 and 23. 
