MANILA - The verdict on Retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. for his alleged role in the abduction of missing University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan will be out this month.

The Malolos City Regional Trial Court Branch 15 said in a notice released Tuesday that the decision on the case will be released on Monday, Sept. 17.

The court told Palparan, who is charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention, and relatives of the two students to attend the hearing.

Armed men wearing bonnets reportedly seized Cadapan and Empeño on June 26, 2006 from a house in Barangay San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan.

At the time, Cadapan, a triathlete, was a senior sports science student while Empeño was taking up sociology.

The two were allegedly tortured to death by Palparan's men.

Palparan, who is facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges, is currently detained at the Philippine Army Custodial Center (PACC) at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Tagged in human rights abuses during the time of former president and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Palparan earlier expressed confidence he would be acquitted.

• Palparan confident of acquittal in UP students' disappearance