DAVAO CITY – Human rights group Karapatan has dared President Benigno Aquino III to “use his power” to have retired Army general Jovito Palparan convicted before he leaves his post.
Palparan was arrested last year on charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan. The charges were filed by brothers Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo.
Palparan was brought to the Army custody a month after his arrest.
On Thursday, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said they also urge the Department of Justice to pursue the case against Palparan before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“The Ombudsman recently found probable cause on the Manalo brothers’ charges against Palparan. The two were abducted, tortured and held in captive by Palparan’s men for a year and a half in 2006-2007. They were able to escape their captors in 2007,” Palabay said.
She said it was during their captivity that they met disappeared student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno. (davaotoday.com)
