The mothers and lawyers of missing University of the Philippines students visited former Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan at the New Bilibid Prison on Thursday. They aimed to confirm his presence after court notices returned unserved. Investigators from the Commission on Human Rights also arrived to conduct their own inquiry.
The mothers of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, along with their lawyers, entered the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. NBP director Superintendent Gary Garcia said they met Palparan at the minimum security compound for over an hour.
Garcia stated the visit was intended to eliminate doubts after the families formally asked the Bureau of Corrections to verify Palparan's location. The mothers had filed a manifestation before the Supreme Court on June 9 following returned notices that suggested possible transfer.
Palparan was convicted in 2018 by a Bulacan court on two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention. Witnesses testified that the students were taken from a house in Hagonoy, Bulacan, on June 26, 2006, and brought to military camps under his command.
Garcia added that the Bureau of Corrections remains transparent on such matters and welcomed the request to avoid confusion. This month marks the 20th year since the students went missing.
