Fugitive human rights violator, Retired General Jovito Palparan, has been arrested in the Philippines on Tuesday, August 12. Palparan is wanted for the 2006 disappearance of two University of the Philippines (UP) students, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno. He has been hiding for 3 years.

While AFAD lauds the arrest, the victims of human rights violations and the rest of the human rights community should remain vigilant and ensure that the arrest will eventually result in his well-deserved punishment to the full extent of the law. It should then result in bringing light on the fate of those who disappeared under his command, the immediate surfacing of the victims and in ensuring that this crime would never ever be repeated.

“Raising our hopes to be dashed once more to the ground by the slow wheels of justice, would be more painful” Mrs. Edita Burgos, mother of disappeared activist Jonas Burgos, said in a text message.

“The much-awaited arrest of the notorious human rights violator, Jovito Palparan is an initial triumph of the struggle of justice against impunity. We look forward to have Palparan prosecuted under the Anti-Disappearance law. ” exclaimed Mary Aileen Bacalso, AFAD Secretary General.