Why Palparan's arrest took long

MANILA, Philippines - The military admitted on Tuesday that it had difficulties in capturing one of its former members, fugitive and retired major general Jovito Palparan.

Major General Eduardo Año, chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), said there were many failed attempts in the past with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to arrest Palparan, who hid for three years.

Año said it was hard to trace Palparan because he was unlike members of terrorist or rebel groups who need to communicate and meet with their people.

"'Yun yung mga ibang weaknesses na pwedeng ma-exploit, nate-trace," Año said in a televised interview with reporters. "But General Palparan is not like that. He can hide inside the house for days even without getting sunshine. Ganoon siya katiyaga. He can be very patient not to contact, communicate [with] his family."

Palparan was arrested by military and NBI operatives before dawn Tuesday inside a house in Sta. Mesa, Manila, according to Año.

He said they received information that Palparan had been staying there for more than three months.

Año said Palparan was also spotted in Bataan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Cagayan De Oro City.

The military official said there were instances in the past when Palparan got away even before authorities reached his hiding place.

"He's very aware of the surroundings. Kapag meron siyang nakitang changes or suspicious, suddenly lumilipat na siya ng tirahan," Año said.

In an earlier television interview, Palparan also said he moved from one place to another in Metro Manila.

But the former military official denied hiding at the AFP general headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Read: Palparan ready for regular jail but fears for life

Año echoed Palparan's claims, though he admitted that the arrested fugitive have friends in both the active and retired military ranks.

"No one coddled General Palparan," Año said.

He revealed, however, that Palparan congratulated the military when they spoke earlier today following his arrest.

"In fact, he was joking with our operatives and he was saying 'Ang gagaling niyo, naisahan niyo kasi naging very lax ako,'" Año quoted Palparan as saying.

Palparan went into hiding in December 2011 after a Bulacan Regional Trial Court judge issued a warrant arrest for him and three others for the disappearance of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan in June 2006.

He has been nicknamed "berdugo" (butcher) for his alleged involvement in the alleged abductions and extrajudicial killings of political activists.

Palparan was among the so-called "Big 5" fugitives who carried a P2 million bounty.