After three years of postponements, presentations, and hearings, the trial of former Army general Jovito Palparan on the abduction and torture of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño has come to an end.
Danah Marie Marcellana, 20, a peasant organizer and martyr’s daughter was abducted by soldiers along with three others on March 7.
These young women are among the many children of activists who have taken their parents’ place in the fight for justice and democracy.
“It is difficult to accept that they are gone. But we are not the only ones hurting. They were both a loss to the thousands of Filipinos suffering.”
“This government has failed to punish Palparan ang Gloria (Macapagal-Arroyo) for their human rights violations. But when it comes to filing trumped up cases against activists and having them arrested, the government sure acts fast.” – Orly Marcellana, husband of victim Eden.
“Justice is dead in our country.” – Orly Marcellana
“Nanay, don’t worry. We are still intact as a family. We will continue to fight for you and for all the other victims of extrajudicial killings.” — Ara Marcellana
By RONALYN V. OLEA
The Aquino government boasted that its new counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan is totally different from the infamous Oplan Bantay Laya of the previous administration. However, the mounting cries for justice of the people of Bondoc Peninsula in southern Luzon shows that it is different only in name, but the same in essence.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Ka Eden, narito kami, anak mo at mga kasamahan
Aming ipinagpapatuloy ang gawain mo’y naiwan
Sumusumpa kaming itutuloy ang laban
Hanggang sa ganap na lumaya ang mahal nating bayan.
Artists commemorate death anniversary of slain activists Marcellana and Gumanoy (Photo courtesy of Artists Arrests)
Video: Justice remains elusive for Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy