Palparan lawyer believes 2 UP students still alive

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan ,Philippines  – One of the counsels of retired Major General Jovito Palparan told the court yesterday that he received information that the two missing University of the Philippines students are still alive.

“I believe it’s true, that’s why I informed the court, and I will also inform the law enforcement agency,” lawyer Jesus Santos said.

Santos made the disclosure before the counsels, family of the victims and Judge Teodora Gonzales of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 in Malolos, Bulacan.

In an interview after the hearing, Santos, without revealing his source, said he received the information through a phone call last Sunday night.

Santos stressed, however, that he still has to verify the information.

The prosecution lawyers said Santos’ claim might be another dilatory tactic of the defense panel to send the law enforcement agency on a wild goose chase.

“If that is really true, then Palparan and his men might be really guilty,” lawyer Edre Olalia said.

Olalia added that if Santos’ information is true, he must show proof, or just present Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in court.

When asked to comment on Olalia’s statements, Santos said that if the two students were still alive, it would only mean that there is no case against Palparan and other accused.

But Olalia explained that whether the victim of a kidnapping is dead or alive, the case would continue, especially in the case of the two female students.

He said that some of the qualifiers in a kidnapping case include: if the victim is held more than three days and if the victim is female.

“In this case, we have a kidnapping with serious illegal detention because the victims are female and are missing for about six years now,” Olalia said.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera agreed with Olalia’s observation that Santos’ statement is just “bare allegation and (a) very dangerous claim.”

Navera argued that even if the two students turn up alive, it would not disprove the allegation that Palparan was involved in their enforced disappearance.

Meanwhile, before Santos made the manifestation, the DOJ questioned his appearance before the court since he had not submitted a written conforme signed by Palparan who was ordered arrested by the RTC and is being hunted.

Santos was given until closing hours of court today to comply with the required documentation before his appearance would be granted.

For Erlinda Cadapan, mother of one of the missing UP students, while she believes that her daughter Sherlyn could still be alive, she warned Santos not to give false hope because it is insensitive.

“I told him when we greeted each other in court that he’s already old and he should not lie,” Cadapan said in Filipino.

With regard to the bounty offered by the government against Palparan, Cadapan said offering a P1-million reward is not enough, it should be “shoot to kill.”

Cadapan added, “Santos is presenting Palparan as a hero, but why can’t they get him to surrender so he can prove his valor.”

Palparan, along with Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario and M/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio, is facing kidnapping with serious illegal detention charges.

Anotado and Osorio appeared in court last December but Palparan and Hilario remain at large.

Sources said that he is hiding in San Miguel, Bulacan, but others said he is in Aurora province. – With Edu Punay