Palparan hearing reset

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – The hearing for the charges of kidnapping with serious illegal detention against retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan has been reset due to Typhoon Ruby.

The Bulacan Regional Trial Court branch 12 reset yesterday’s hearing to Feb. 2 next year and on every succeeding Mondays.

During a hearing on Nov. 24, Palparan’s lawyers presented a list of 30 witnesses while the prosecution had 15.

Palparan is facing charges for the disappearance of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

He was the chief of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Nueva Ecija when the incident occurred in 2006.

Aside from Palparan, charged were retired Army Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio. A fourth suspect, M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario, has yet to be arrested.