FILE PHOTO: Retired Army general and Communist activist Jovito Palparan
BULACAN, Philippines – The Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 15 has found retired Major General Jovito Palparan “guilty” of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of two University of the Philippines (UP) students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan.
Judge Alexander Tamayo sentenced Palparan, known as “The Butcher,” to a life imprisonment for the crime that sent families into 12 years of torment.
“Tama lang na mabulok ka sa bilanguan. Hindi pa po tama iyan. Kung ako ang magpapasya ay babalatan kita ng paunti-unti kagaya ng mga ginawa mo sa mamamayan,” said Erlinda Cadapan, Sherlyn’s mother.
“Tama lang managot si Palparan at dapat lang ilitaw si Karen Empeño at Sherlyn Cadapan,” said Karen’s mother, Connie Empeño.
“Simula palang ito. Simula pa lang ng laban. Ilabas nila ang katawan ng kapatid ko na buhay. Ilabas nila ang kapatid ko, ilabas nila,” exclaimed Sherlyn’s sister, Pamelyn.
The Court also ordered Palparan to pay a total of P600,000 to both of the victims’ families.
It was on July 26, 2006 when alleged student activists Empeño and Cadapan were abducted while doing a research in the town of Hagonoy in Bulacan.
According to the crucial witness, farmer Raymond Manalo, the two were tortured and sexually molested inside a military cell at the 24th Infantry Batallion in Limay, Bataan sometime in November 2006.
Manalo, along with his brother, Reynaldo, testified that they were abducted on February 14, 2006, in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, for being suspected as members of the communist group.
He said they were kept, along with the two students, by their military captors in captivity even during camp transfers.
He said he last saw the Empeño and Cadapan in July 2007.
Also found guilty were two of Palparan’s co-accused Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio.
Malacañang, meanwhile, through Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said: “We respect the decision of the court. We want justice to be done for the victims.”
Palparan is likely to be cited in contempt for badmouthing Judge Tamayo inside the courtroom after the verdict was read.
But the retired general remained firm.
“Hindi sya matinong judge. Go ahead, kung ma-contempt nila ako, go ahead. Ano pa (kung) makukulong na ko ng for life”” the embattled retired army official said.
The court also ordered the transfer of Palparan to a regular prison cell from its temporary jail at the Philippine Army Headquarters.
Meanwhile, Judge Tamayo also issued a warrant of arrest against Palparan’s co-accused Master Sergeant Rizal Hilario who remains at large to date. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Nestor Torres)
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