Palparan fierce, defiant even at his judgment day

As the Malolos Regional Trial Court on Monday handed out the verdict on the charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, retired Major General Jovito Palparan hurled curses against the judge and the prosecution panel.

Palparan on Monday morning shouted at Judge Alexander Tamayo: “Duwag ka, Judge! Napakaduwag mo!” during the promulgation of the judgment.

(You’re a coward, Judge! So coward!)

Palparan was warned of contempt but he retorted: “Kahit i-contempt mo kami! Makukulong naman na kami eh!”

(It doesn’t matter anymore. We’re going to jail anyway.)

The retired military officer went on to shout at both Judge Tamayo and Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera: “Napakagago mo! (You’re so stupid.)”

The prosecutors, however, dismissed Palparan’s curses, noting that they are used to verbal attacks by convicts.

“We are used to accused abusing us verbally. As prosecutors, we are not popular with convicts. We take it in stride knowing that we act professionally at all times in all cases,” Navera said.

The commotion ensued during the promulgation of the court’s judgment where it found Palparan and co-accused Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, Jr. and Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio guilty of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

The court also issued an alias warrant against the other accused, M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario, who remains at-large.

Palparan, Anotado and Osorio were sentenced to life imprisonment and were ordered to pay P100,000 for civil indemnity and P200,000 for moral damages for each count.

Tamayo ordered them committed to the New Bilibid Prison.

Palparan and the other accused were tagged in the kidnapping of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno in 2006.

Palparan went into hiding following the issuance of a warrant for his arrest. He was later arrested in Sta. Mesa, Manila, in 2014.   /vvp/ac

READ: Palparan guilty of kidnapping UP students