Moms of missing UP students want Palparan co-accused moved to regular jail

MANILA, Philippines—The mothers of two missing University of the Philippines students on Monday asked the Malolos City Regional Trial Court to put the surrendered soldiers who are co-accused of retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. in a regular jail.

“We ask the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14 to withdraw its grant to place Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio in military custody. We believe that they should be put in a regular detention facility without any special treatment,” Linda Cadapan and Connie Empeño, mothers of Sherlyn and Karen, respectively, said.

Osorio and Anotado surrendered to the authorities on Dec. 21, 2011 after a warrant of arrest against them was issued. On Dec. 23, they were placed under military custody on grounds of threat to their security.

Anotado and Osorio, along with Palparan, are facing charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the abduction of still missing UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan.