MANILA -- A Catholic priest on Monday welcomed the decision of the Malolos Regional Trial Court (RTC) convicting retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan in connection with the disappearance of University of the Philippines (UP) students 12 years ago.
“Palparan deserves a guilty verdict for his monstrous crime in killing and torturing those who are in progressive movements working to defend the rights of the poor,” Fr. Edu Gariguez said in a statement.
“I have personally investigated the spate of killings in Mindoro orchestrated by him. And I was also targeted by him for liquidation,” he added.
Gariguez believed that the decision of Judge Alexander Tamayo only means that justice had been served.
“He should be made accountable for his crime,” he said.
On Monday, the Malolos RTC found Palparan, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, Jr., and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio guilty of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006.
They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or 20 years and one day to 40 years imprisonment, and were ordered to pay PHP100,000 in civil indemnity and PHP200,000 in moral damages for each count.
The court issued an alias warrant against the other accused, M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario, who remains at large.
Palparan is currently detained at the Army Custodial Center in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City for his alleged role in the abduction and illegal detention of the victims.
On June 26, 2006, unidentified armed men abducted the students in a house in Barangay San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan. (PNA)
