Reward will be helpful in finding Palparan—PNP chief

PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome

MANILA, Philippines—A reward for information that may lead to the arrest of retired Major General Jovito Palparan Jr. could be a big help for authorities tasked to find him, Philippine National Police chief, Director General Nicanor Bartolome said Friday.

Speaking to reporters, Bartolome said that while tracking teams have been formed in close coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation which are also searching for Palparan, information from the community will be very helpful.

He said that even as Palparan is apparently hard to catch because of his experience in military as intelligence officer, Bartolome said that the police have formulated their schemes to find the fugitive retired major.

“Ang mahabang kamay ng batas ay aabot din sa kanya,” he said.

The PNP chief said that the police already have information regarding possible places where Palparan may be hiding, but said that he could not divulge it to the media.

He also urged Palparan to surrender so he can defend himself properly in court, saying that “it is an opportunity for him to prove his innocence.”

Palparan Jr. has been hiding since early this week after he was barred from flying to Singapore at the Diosdado Macapagal Airport due to separate arrest warrants issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Malolos, Bulacan province for him and three others accused for the abduction of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in June 2006.