Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has found probable cause to sue retired Army general Jovito Palparan for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of the Manalo brothers whom the military had tagged as members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Palparan is in detention and is being tried before the Bulacan Regional Trial Court for arbitrary detention, torture and rape of Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, both students of the University of the Philippines, who remain missing.