Prosecutors to present 5th witness vs Palparan

MANILA, Philippines - State prosecutors will present today another witness against retired general Jovito Palparan and several soldiers and officials who were allegedly responsible for the abduction and disappearance of two University of the Philippines students.

Rights group Karapatan, which has been helping the families of the UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, said Cadapan's mother in law -- Adoracion Paulino -- will take the witness stand as the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14 resumes the hearing of the criminal case against Palparan at 10 a.m.

Karapatan said that Cadapan, escorted by military men, visited Paulino several days after her abduction.

Cadapan and Empeño were allegedly forcibly taken by armed men and brought to a military camp in Bulacan upon the orders of Palparan in February 2006.

Palparan has gone into hiding after the court issued an arrest order against him for kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges.