Rights group condemns Palparan's acquittal in kidnapping case -

MANILA, Philippines — Rights group Karapatan on Friday condemned the acquittal of retired Main Basic Jovito Palparan within the instances of kidnapping and severe unlawful detention with severe bodily accidents.

Brothers Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo filed the case in opposition to him in 2016.

Together with Palparan, Grasp Sergeant Rizal Hilario, and brothers Michael, Marcelo, Jose, Maximo, and Roman dela Cruz had been additionally acquitted.

Based on Karapatan, the Malolos Regional Trial Courtroom junked the accounts of the Manalo brothers, which had been affirmed by the Supreme Courtroom.

“We’re enraged at how this dishonorable courtroom junked the truthful, credible, and constant accounts of the Manalo brothers, which have been affirmed many occasions over by a number of courts together with the Supreme Courtroom, after they stood as key witnesses in opposition to Palparan et.al. within the abduction and disappearance of UP college students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno,” it stated in an announcement Friday.

The group stated that the courtroom “crassly disregarded” the battle of the Manalo brothers and invalidated their sufferings.

“We’re appalled at how this courtroom crassly disregarded the historical past and authorized battle that the case of the Manalo brothers have gone via for 16 years since he was kidnapped by Palparan’s males in 2007. This courtroom’s unspeakable, dastardly act invalidated the kidnapping, enforced disappearance, torture, and sufferings endured by the Manalo brothers,” it stated.

It likewise added that this case was an instance of the “lopsided” justice system, which made the pursuit of justice and accountability laborious.

“Clearly, the case of the Manalo brothers is a dire instance of how lopsided the justice system is, making it extraordinarily laborious for courageous bizarre people like Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo, to pursue justice, and demand accountability from all perpetrators of enforced disappearances, torture, and all different human rights violations,” Karapatan added.