AFP: Decision on Palparan’s custody up to court

MANILA, Philippines - The military is leaving it up to the courts to decide on retired general Jovito Palparan Jr.’s motion to be placed under its custody, even as it stressed that ensuring his safety remains “a paramount concern.”

“Whatever will be the decision regarding General Palparan’s appeal will be welcomed by our leadership,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said in a text message in reaction to Palparan’s request for transfer of detention from the Bulacan Provincial Jail to a military facility.

Palparan cited the supposed threat to his life from the New People’s Army (NPA).

He claimed that some suspected communist rebels are imprisoned in the same jail facility where he is detained.

While the military issued a neutral statement on Palparan’s custody, it confirmed that the former Army general is facing threats.

“The AFP views Gen. Palparan’s security a paramount concern with regard to the ongoing investigation to protect him from the NPA, which has a standing order to have him killed,” Zagala said.

“This, we believe, is ill-fitting in a democratic society if we are to really search for truth and justice,” he added.

Palparan is facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges for the disappearance of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, who were last seen in Bulacan in 2006.

Palparan was the chief of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division in Central Luzon when the two students went missing.

Dubbed as “the butcher” by militant groups for his alleged involvement in human rights abuses, Palparan was arrested in Sta. Mesa, Manila last Aug. 12 after hiding from authorities for three years.

In an earlier interview, then Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Maj. Gen. Eduardo Año said they were ready to accommodate Palparan if ordered by the court to do so.

“It is really recommended that he (Palparan) should be detained either at the PNP (Philippine National Police) Custodial Center or at the AFP Custodial Center,” Año told reporters last month.

“He deserves his day in court, hence his safety must be ensured,” he added.

Edre Olalia, lawyer of the families of Cadapan and Empeño, has opposed the proposal to place the former general under military custody, saying this would send a wrong signal to the public.

He has also described as “exaggerated” and “unproven” claims about the supposed threats to Palparan’s life.

Olalia said Palparan should stop acting like a victim since he was the one who was charged with committing “dastardly and despicable acts” against civilians. 

Meanwhile, Bulacan regional trial court Judge Teodora Gonzales reset on Monday next week the pre-trial of the kidnapping case against Palparan to give way to deliberations or possible ruling on his renewed appeal for change of custody and on motion for quashing of information.

The pre-trial was originally scheduled yesterday. Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Divina, officer-in-charge of Bulacan police provincial office, said civil disturbance units were deployed around the Bulwagang ng Katarungan compound where militant groups and Palparan supporters converged. Gonzales had earlier rejected the military officer’s request not to be transferred to the Bulacan provincial jail. – Ric Sapnu