In his motion submitted before the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14, lawyer Abner Torres, who is one of the lawyers of the accused military officials, said he is not fit to travel due to “loose vowel movement.”

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO

Bulatlat.com

MALOLOS, Bulacan – Mothers of the two missing students of the University of the Philippines expressed outrage over the alleged continuing “delaying tactics” of the military.

In his motion submitted before the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14, lawyer Abner Torres, who is one of the lawyers of the accused military officials, said he is not fit to travel due to “loose vowel movement.”

“Today, the military showed how stupid and silly they are. Their lawyer, in a letter they submitted, said he is could not attend today’s hearing due to ‘loose vowel movement.’ I am sure that he meant LVM (not LBM) because they have run out of excuses to further delay the hearings,” Connie Empeño, mother of Karen Empeño, told Bulatlat.com.

“All the military could say when being asked for reasons for delaying the hearings are ‘Aaaah’, ‘Eeeeh, I, O, U; why don’t they just accept that their clients are guilty?”

Mrs. Empeño said. “But they are still strongly denying their involvement in the enforced disappearance.”

Mothers of the missing UP students and human rights group have criticized the delaying tactics of the military. In a hearing last April 7, lawyer Jose Cruz, also a counsel of the military, said he could not attend the hearing due to “an emergency matter in the family.”

The military has also cited lack of funds to shoulder the travel expenses of the witnesses. Soldiers to whom subpoenas were issued are purportedly assigned in various provinces in the country, from as far as Isabela province to Jolo in Mindanao, according to their lawyers.

Major General Jovito Palparan, Col. Felipe Anotado, Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio and Master Sgt. Rizal Hilario are charged with kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of the two UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan on June 26, 2006.

Terminate presentation of witnesses

Mrs. Erlinda Cadapan, mother of Sherlyn, said the defense claimed that they would present nine witnesses. “But until now, we have not heard a significant account that would point us to the whereabouts of our daughters,” she said.

“They have continued to lie before the court and in front of the families of the victims,” Mrs. Cadapan said.

Both Mrs. Empeño and Mrs. Cadapan said they hope the court would no longer allow the military to present witnesses after June 23, the scheduled last day of presentation of witnesses before the court.

Anotado, for one, whose testimony, according to their lawyers, is being “saved for last,” have yet to execute a judicial affidavit. He confirmed before the court during the June 9 hearing that he has not executed any.

“If they will submit his judicial affidavit on June 23 and ask for another day for the testimony, we would object and ask the court to waive it,” Julian Oliva, counsel of the families, said, adding that the defense has been given and missed all the opportunities to present their witnesses.

Mrs. Cadapan said, “We hope that we would win in our fight for justice for Karen and Sherlyn. We hope that we would know who should be held accountable. We want nothing but the truth.”