No bail for Palparan coaccused

Jovito Palparan Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A Bulacan court has denied bail to two soldiers earlier charged with the enforced disappearance of two female University of the Philippines students in 2006.

Lt. Col. Felipe Anotano and Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio are coaccused of fugitive retired general and former congressman Jovito Palparan Jr. in the abduction and disappearance of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño.

“After a thorough evaluation of the evidence adduced by the State and the pertinent laws applicable to the instant petition as well as the arguments raised by the defense, this court finds and so holds that the petition is bereft of merit,” stated the eight-page order of Malolos City Regional Trial Court Judge Teodora Gonzales.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors led by Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Navera received its copy of the order on Friday.

“The court found that the prosecution evidence was strong to deny bail for the accused [and] stressed that the positive testimonies of [our witnesses] proved the fact of the disappearance of the victims and that the accused were responsible for their abduction and custody, as well as their consequent torture,” Navera said.