Court finds Palparan, 2 others guilty over the disappearance of 2 UP students.

A court in Bulacan province has found retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan Jr. and two others guilty of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
The case was in connection with the disappearance of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006.
Commotion occurred at the courtroom when Palparan screamed at Judge Tamayo and called him "duwag" (coward). 
This prompted Tamayo to warn Palparan that he could be cited in contempt, but the retired military official was reportedly unfazed.
Tamayo also ordered that Palparan be transferred from his detention cell in the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City to a regular jail cell.


 Commotion occurred at the courtroom when Palparan screamed at Judge Tamayo and called him "duwag" (coward). 
This prompted Tamayo to warn Palparan that he could be cited in contempt, but the retired military official was reportedly unfazed. 

 Tamayo also ordered that Palparan be transferred from his detention cell in the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City to a regular jail cell.


 The relatives of the two missing students became emotional when the verdict was handed down by Judge Alexander Tamayo of Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 15.
The court sentenced Palparan and his two co-accused, former Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and former Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio, to reclusion perpetua. A third accused, Rizal Hilario, remains at large.
The three were also ordered to pay the victims' families P100,000.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra likewise lauded the court's decision.
"Justice may come a bit late, but it does come. Let's believe in that," he said in a message sent to reporters.