Palace denies persecuting Palparan

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang denied yesterday allegations that retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. is being persecuted.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the fugitive former military official has been given due process.

“If you look through all the records, you can see that the court has accorded him due process,” she said.

Valte said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is continuously looking for Palparan, who has been tagged in the disappearance of two student activists.

“According to the PNP, they continue to pursue the leads that are given to them and also it’s a matter of weeding out the leads,” she said.

“They continue to work on it despite some difficulties that they have been encountering.”

The Malolos regional trial court has issued a hold departure order against Palparan after he was arraigned on charges of kidnapping student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño.

Police have formed teams to track down Palparan and his co-accused Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado Jr., S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio and M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario.

The government has offered a P2-million reward for information that would lead to Palparan’s arrest.

Palparan’s lawyers have asked the Court of Appeals to stop the Malolos RTC from proceeding with his trial.

“They were not given an opportunity to submit countervailing evidence to squarely refute the charge of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in violation of their right to due process,” the lawyers said.