RELEASE THE ABDUCTED UP STUDENTS, CITIZENS : QC IMC

RELEASE THE ABDUCTED UP STUDENTS, CITIZENS

The Arroyo hound dogs are at it again.

This Monday (July 26), Ms. Karen Empeño, Ms. Sherlyn Cadapan and Mr. Manuel Merino fell victim to the hound dogs of Mrs. Arroyo as they were unjustly harassed and abducted in Bulacan. At around 2 a.m., 6 armed men wearing black bonnets pounded the doors of the house they were residing demanding everyone in the house to step out. These armed men even threatened to destroy the doors in order to force the residents to come out. Manuel was then bound while Karen and Sherlyn were forcibly brought out.

Up to now, Karen, Sherlyn and Manuel remain among the missing. And with every second their whereabouts remain unknown, their lives are put into greater peril.

It is no secret that in Central Luzon, hundreds of citizens have fallen victim to the abductions and killings since Maj. Gen. Palparan came into command. The general pattern of killing throughout the nation—armed bonneted men pounding houses or riding motorcycles—all point to the workings of the military hand, meant to silence the growing protest atmosphere. With Mrs. Arroyo’s declaration of an all-out offensive, the killing spree has started to intensify.

But with this all-out offensive, unarmed civilians have become targets of the Arroyo regime. And in this war, UP students are no longer spared.

Karen Empeño is a BA Sociology student of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. She is a member of the League of Filipino Students-UP Diliman before going to Central Luzon to do research on the plight of farmers. Her peers portray her as an outspoken and jolly student-activist, outrightly voicing out any injustice she observes.

Sherlyn is an award-winning triathlete from the College of Human Kinetics (CHK). She also served as CHK representative to the University Student Council of UP Diliman. After serving as CHK rep, she became a community organizer for Anakbayan. She now serves as a volunteer researcher for the farmers in Central Luzon.

With the disappearance of these three, the Arroyo administration has crossed the line. Last week, Philippine Marines have been spotted in the UP campus, meant to replace the local security team. Military personnel have also been reported last year poking into student records, while soldiers have been repeatedly spotted around the campus.

We hold the military and the Arroyo regime accountable for this spate of disappearances. We demand that they present Karen, Sherlyn and Manuel unharmed. We vehemently denounce the escalating number of human rights violations since Mrs. Arroyo has usurped power.

We demand their immediate release! We demand justice for all victims of human rights violations!
Press Statement
June 28, 2006
Reference: Ronniel Villegas

Chairperson, League of Filipino Students - UP Diliman

09159426139

RELEASE THE ABDUCTED UP STUDENTS, CITIZENS

The Arroyo hound dogs are at it again.

This Monday (July 26), Ms. Karen Empeño, Ms. Sherlyn Cadapan and Mr. Manuel Merino fell victim to the hound dogs of Mrs. Arroyo as they were unjustly harassed and abducted in Bulacan. At around 2 a.m., 6 armed men wearing black bonnets pounded the doors of the house they were residing demanding everyone in the house to step out. These armed men even threatened to destroy the doors in order to force the residents to come out. Manuel was then bound while Karen and Sherlyn were forcibly brought out.

Up to now, Karen, Sherlyn and Manuel remain among the missing. And with every second their whereabouts remain unknown, their lives are put into greater peril.

It is no secret that in Central Luzon, hundreds of citizens have fallen victim to the abductions and killings since Maj. Gen. Palparan came into command. The general pattern of killing throughout the nation—armed bonneted men pounding houses or riding motorcycles—all point to the workings of the military hand, meant to silence the growing protest atmosphere. With Mrs. Arroyo’s declaration of an all-out offensive, the killing spree has started to intensify.

But with this all-out offensive, unarmed civilians have become targets of the Arroyo regime. And in this war, UP students are no longer spared.

Karen Empeño is a BA Sociology student of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. She is a member of the League of Filipino Students-UP Diliman before going to Central Luzon to do research on the plight of farmers. Her peers portray her as an outspoken and jolly student-activist, outrightly voicing out any injustice she observes.

Sherlyn is an award-winning triathlete from the College of Human Kinetics (CHK). She also served as CHK representative to the University Student Council of UP Diliman. After serving as CHK rep, she became a community organizer for Anakbayan. She now serves as a volunteer researcher for the farmers in Central Luzon.

With the disappearance of these three, the Arroyo administration has crossed the line. Last week, Philippine Marines have been spotted in the UP campus, meant to replace the local security team. Military personnel have also been reported last year poking into student records, while soldiers have been repeatedly spotted around the campus.

We hold the military and the Arroyo regime accountable for this spate of disappearances. We demand that they present Karen, Sherlyn and Manuel unharmed. We vehemently denounce the escalating number of human rights violations since Mrs. Arroyo has usurped power.

We demand their immediate release! We demand justice for all victims of human rights violations!