3 militiamen surrender to join Palparan in 2nd kidnap case
CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan—Three militiamen surrendered on Wednesday after being implicated in a second lawsuit against retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan for the 2006 kidnapping and serious illegal detention of two brothers in San Ildefonso town.
Michael Dela Cruz, 57, and Maximo Dela Cruz, 44, members of the Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA), and Marcelo Dela Cruz, 54, placed themselves under the custody of the Bulacan police following arrest warrants issued by Bulacan Regional Trial Court Judge Francisco Felizmenio of Branch 19.
They were accused of taking part in the abduction and torture of Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo.
Palparan is currently standing trial for an earlier kidnapping and serious illegal detention case filed by the families of missing University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño. The students also disappeared in 2006.
The Manalo brothers testified against Palparan in the Cadapan-Empeño trial.
The militiamen said they surrendered because they were fearful about being killed by policemen, tasked to locate them.
They are detained at the Bulacan PPSC custodial facility. RAM/rga
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