For the the mothers of the disappeared, the silliest question was when the defense lawyer asked if Raymond Manalo has photos or videos of himself, along with the two UP students, to prove his statements.
“They were given two years to present their witnesses. But they failed.. I wonder where they are going to get their witnesses now.” – Mrs. Concepcion Empeño
“To support a choice of detention facility – as with any other decision in life – there must be validated, adequate, relevant, and objective data. To invoke demons and ghosts from the past, real or imaginary, to avoid the Spartan conditions, rigors and limitations of an ordinary civilian jail – and get away with it with impunity – is to thumb one’s nose against the justice system.” – National Union of Peoples Lawyers, in a motion for Palparan’s transfer
“By June next year, it would be the eighth year since Sherlyn disappeared. I am looking for my daughter. Her life is at stake here. This should be urgent.” – Mrs. Erlinda Cadapan
“The prosecution thus far had shown that evidence of guilt against the accused for said crimes is strong.” — Judge Teodora Gonzales of the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14
“We have gone to the courts. We have followed the government’s slow judicial process and still, we have not found our daughters.”
“Seven years quickly passed by but the progress of our case has been painstakingly slow.” – Mrs. Concepcion Empeño, mother of Karen
“Our evidence is strong. The suspects were positively identified, again and again, by our two main witnesses.” – Julian Oliva Jr., counsel of the families
Adoracion Paulino, mother-in-law of missing UP student Sherlyn Cadapan, had a lot of questions when Sherlyn suddenly appeared in her house, being guarded by three women and two men, but Sherlyn did not answer her queries.
Arrest Palparan, kin of victims ask Aquino (Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / Bulatlat.com)
By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com MALOLOS, Bulacan – As the world commemorated the 149th Human Rights Day, Mrs. Erlinda Cadapan, mother of missing activist Sherlyn, took the witness stand at the Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 14. Her more than six years of searching for Sherlyn, second of her five children, led her to this…