Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 5) — The Court of Appeals upheld the conviction of retired Major General Jovito Palparan Jr. and two other military officials for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of two University of the Philippines students in 2006.
Palparan and his accomplices Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado Jr. and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio were convicted by the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 15 in 2018 for the abduction of UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan.
In a 61-page decision, the CA affirmed the local court’s imposition of reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole, or up to 40 years of imprisonment, on the three accused.
The CA also imposed a 6% annual interest rate on the P100,000 civil indemnity and P200,000 moral damages to the families of the victims.
According to the testimonies of prosecution witnesses, the two victims were detained in various military camps and detachments.
One of the witnesses also testified that he saw the torture inflicted on Empeno and Cadapan, saying they “were stripped naked, beaten and their skin were burned with lighted cigarettes.”
“The testimonies of these witnesses are credible, clear, and categorical,” the CA ruled. “The facts established the concerted acts of the 3 accused-appellants aimed at carrying out the unlawful intent of taking and detaining the 2 victims.”
Palparan has been detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, who were the lawyers of the victims’ families, said that Palparan’s conviction is a “loud and clear warning” to anyone who think they are “invincible and untouchable.”
“We certainly need these affirmations that in time, one cannot get away with rights abuses just like that. Nor will enablers be able to obfuscate the truth and rescript the facts,” said NUPL president Edre Olalia in a statement.
