A Letter From The UP President

Office of the President
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Quezon City
July 3, 2006


Honorable Avelino J. Cruz, Jr.
Secretary
Department of National Defense
3/F Department of National Defense Building
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City


Subject: Request for Assistance
Enforced Disappearnce of UP Students
Ms. Karen Empeño and Ms. Sherlyn Cadapan


Dear Secretary Cruz:

We write to seek the assistance of your office so that the friends, student colleagues and parents of Ms. Karen Empeño and Ms. Sherlyn Cadapan may locate them and provide them with medical or legal assistance if necessary.

Ms. Karen Empeño is a BA Sociology student of the College of Social Science and Philosophy (CSSP). Ms. Sherlyn Cadapan is an award winning trialhlete from the College of Human Kinetics (CHK).

According to raw reports reaching my office, six or more masked armed men forcibly took them at about 1:00 in the morning of Monday, June 26, 2006 in Purok 6, Barangay San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan. The masked armed men were using long guns and apparently did not show nay court order fortheir physical detention. We were also informed that Karen was asked to remove her shirt. They used this shirt to blinfold her. Sherlyn is pregnan. The women were then forced into a vehicle that proceeded in the direction of Iba, Hagonoy.

We are confident that you will understand the concerns of our constituents. We know that you share with us a commitment to the spirit of the UN General Assembly's "Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance" (Resolution 47/133 of December 18, 1992). We also know that the acts done by the masked armed men are criminally punishable under our laws. Most of all, as parents committed to teacht he virtues of valuing human dignity, we are certain that you could address this matter with empathy.

Hoping that you could lend the resources of your public office to assist them in these difficult times.


Very truly yours,

Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman
President