Missing UP students' kin seek return of Palparan to regular jail

MANILA, Philippines - The lawyers of the families of two missing University of the Philippines students Karen Empeno and Sheryln Cadapan will ask today a local court in Bulacan to order the transfer of retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan from the Army detention cell to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Lawyer Edre Olalia of the National Union of People's Lawyers said they will file a motion to transfer Palparan to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Taguig City before the Malolos Regional Trial Court branch 14 this afternoon.

Olalia said Palparan is now longer a military personnel and should be detained in a regular jail facility while the criminal cases against him are being heard.

"First, he is no longer with the military so dapat sa civilian jail na siya. Second, the crimes he committed is not covered by the Articles of War. Hindi ito war crimes, but common crimes," Olalia said.

He also noted that the BJMP is mandated to take in high-profile detainees.

Olalia added that the reported death threats on Palparan are merely hearsay and speculative.

"Of all the prisons in the country, why jail him in a military camp where he is familiar with? It sets a bad precedent," he said.

Judge Teodora Gonzales of the Malolos RTC Branch 14 previously ordered the transfer of Palparan from the Bulacan Provincial Jail to the Philippine Army detention facility in Makati City.

He noted that jail officials could not provide adequate security to Palparan, who is a high-profile detainee.

The judge also ruled that the transfer would be practical on the part of Palparan's security as two other co-accused in the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case are now detained in the military camp.

The hearing on the motion to transfer Palparan is set on Monday.