AFP: Retired soldier in missing students case died last year

A retired Army soldier implicated in the disappearance of two students and their companion in Bulacan five years ago had already died, the military said on Tuesday. Col. Domingo Tutaan, chief of the Armed Forces’ Human Rights Office, said retired M/Sgt. Donald Caigas passed away last year due to a lingering illness. Tutaan said they have already submitted to the Department of Justice, which is conducting preliminary investigation on the case, the certification proving Caigas’ death. “One of the respondents has passed away last year… [We] presented the certification that retired M/Sgt. Donald Caigas, a respondent in the case, passed away since last year," he said. Caigas was among the seven soldiers blamed for the disappearance of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, both UP Diliman students, and farmer Manuel Merino. They were allegedly abducted by soldiers in Hagonoy town in June 2006. Of the remaining six respondents, only two are still in active service – Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, who is confined at a military hospital, and 1Lt. Francis Mirabelle Samson. The four others are retired 7th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, retired Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac, retired 2Lt. Arnel Enriquez, and retired M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario. The military has repeatedly denied having a hand in the abduction and disappearance of the two. - KBK, GMA News