Fisherman tells court he saw abduction of 2 UP students

CITY OF MALOLOS—A fisherman on Monday testified in court that he saw the abduction of missing University of the Philippines (UP) students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006 in Hagonoy town, Bulacan province.

During the continuation of the trial of retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. at the Regional Trial Court here, Wilfredo Ramos, now 23, said he saw Cadapan and Empeño taken from a house in their home village of San Miguel in Hagonoy nine years ago.

Palparan and three other soldiers have been charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of the UP students.

Ramos said the students were hog-tied and dragged into a vehicle.

He said he and his father, a farmer, were also tied up by one of the accused, Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio, whom he identified as the same soldier who bound Cadapan, Empeño and Manuel Merino.

Merino had earlier testified for the prosecution against Palparan, Osorio and Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado. The fourth accused, M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario, has yet to be arrested.

Ramos said he and his father were spared and were not taken to a military camp with the UP students.

Ramos said he later saw the vehicle carrying Cadapan, Empeño and Merino inside a military detachment in Barangay (village) Iba, also in Hagonoy, when he helped in the search for the students.

During cross-examination, Palparan’s lawyers challenged Ramos’ testimony by pointing out that he had not cited Osorio in his early affidavits. Ramos said he had not done so because he did not know Osorio by name then.

Lawyer Edre Olalia, secretary general of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers who is representing the families of the UP students, said the Monday hearing was the third time Ramos testified against Osorio.

Olalia said Ramos first identified Osorio during a hearing at the Department of Justice in 2011.