| Abducted UP student
Sherlyn Cadapan was tortured by military soldiers after
they discovered her plan to tell her mother-in-law where
she was being detained with Karen Empeño, former
military captive Raymond Manalo told the Court of Appeals
on January 18.
In the court’s third hearing on the writ of amparo
for abducted UP students Cadapan and Empeño,
Manalo said Cadapan intended to inform her mother-in-law
Adoracion Paulino in April last year that they were
being held captive at Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan.
Paulino earlier testified that Cadapan was escorted
by five military soldiers when Cadapan “visited”
her on April last year.
Soldiers tied Cadapan upside down to an inclined bench,
with one of her ankles on the bench’s foot and
the other hung, according to Manalo. “Pagkatapos,
binuhusan siya ng tubig, isang dram, tapos kinuryente,”
he said.
Manalo said he witnessed the torture when he was directed
by military soldiers to serve them food.
Manalo and his brother Reynald were with Empeño
and Cadapan during their detention at different camps.
According to Manalo, “binibigyan ko sila ng pagkain
kapag inuutusan ng militar. Hinahayaan din kaming makapag-usap
nung gwardya.”
The Manalos escaped military detention on August 3,
six months after being abducted by military soldiers
in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on charge that they were members
of the New Peoples’ Army.
Military officer identified as captor
Manalo also identified Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Anotado,
commanding officer of the 24th Infantry Batallion in
Balanga, Bataan, as one of their captors. He said he
saw Anotado thrice during their detention in Bataan.
Other respondents to the case are Gloria Arroyo, AFP
Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon, Philippine
National Police Director General Avelino Razon, retired
General Jovito Palparan and other military officers.
The writ of amparo orders the respondents to produce
Empeño and Cadapan, who have been missing for
a year and seven months since their abduction in Hagonoy,
Bulacan.
“Huling-huli na sila (the military), wala na
silang kawala,” said Concepcion Empeño,
mother of Karen. Sherlyn’s mother, Erlynda Cadapan,
added, “May katotohanan ang sinasabi ni Raymond,
nakikita naman.”
The court scheduled the next hearing on February 5,
where respondents’ witnesses are expected to testify
before the court.# Philippine
Collegian
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