MANILA, Philippines — Convicted retired Army major general Jovito Palparan Jr. was finally transferred from the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa last night.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Palparan arrived at the national penitentiary at around 7:45 p.m. after Malolos, Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 ordered his immediate commitment at NBP upon denial of his motion to defer transfer pending resolution of his motion for reconsideration on his conviction in the abduction of two University of Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) students who have remained missing for 12 years.
Palparan, called by human rights groups as “The Butcher,” and his two co-accused – Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio – were found guilty for kidnapping and serious illegal detention of UPLB students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, who were snatched in Barangay San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan in June 2006.
They were also ordered to indemnify the family of the missing with P100,000 in civil damages and P200,000 as moral damages in the verdict handed down by Judge Alexander Tamayo.
The three filed an appeal on the RTC’s decision, but government prosecutors stressed that Palparan and company should be immediately brought to the NBP pending resolution of their appeal.