CONCEPCION EMPEÑO and Erlinda Cadapan, mothers of missing University of the Philippines (UP) students Karen and Sherlyn, early this week commemorated the 11th year of their disappearance by renewing their call for justice.
“Today, June 26, 2017, marks the 11th year of Karen’s and Sherlyn’s abduction…still no significant change on the case, despite the changes of leadership in our country. For Karen’s family, it is 11 years of torment—emotional, mental, social and financial. We do hope that in this present administration under President Duterte, our case will be solved and closed with faultless decision. To our dear President, our plea: Justice for Karen and Sherlyn!” said Nanay Connie, as Empeño is fondly called, in her Facebook account.
Nanay Connie was with her grandchildren in their hometown in Zambales the whole day.
When asked what she did the whole day, she said, “Nag-usap kami ni Tatay sa sitwasyon ng kaso na sobrang bagal. Sana matapos na at mabigyan na ng tamang desisyon [Karen’s father and I talked about the very slow status of the case. We really hope it will be resolved soon and be given the correct decision].”
She also thanked human-rights lawyers from the National Union of People’s Lawyers, public prosecutors from the Department of Justice and human-rights alliance Karapatan for their tireless support.
Pinning their hope on Duterte’s sense of social justice, Nanay Connie said, “Sana talaga matulungan tayo ni Pangulong Duterte na matapos na ang kaso [We really hope President Duterte will help so that the case will be resolved soon].”
Meanwhile, Sherlyn’s mother Linda, thanked all those who have supported them in their search for their missing daughters, and those who shared their struggle for justice.
However, she lamented the pains of a mother in search for her child.
In a Facebook post, she asked: “Kailan…? Ubos na ang luha at lakas, paghahanap, mayakap muli ang mapagmahal sa mga dukha; ayaw ko ang tagpo sa kabilang mundo…[Until when (shall we search)? Tears and strength have dried up, we continue to search, to whom I long to embrace, she who empathized with the poor; I fear that only in the afterlife shall we meet again].”
Since 2007, friends and relatives of Karen and Sherlyn have gathered on the day of their enforced abduction to call on government agencies to produce them alive, along with Manuel Merino, the Bulacan farmer snatched along with them, and hundreds of other people taken into custody by suspected state agents.
A tribute for them will be held on June 29 by the Tanggulan Youth Network for Human Rights and Civil Liberties and the University of the Philippines—College of Mass Communication Student Council.