NBI hunters of the ‘Butcher’ come up empty

Jovito Palparan Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents who have been scouring Zambales province in the past two days have failed to find any trace of fugitive retired Major General Jovito Palparan.

“For [lack] of specific information, we weren’t able to do much except to look for him in some identified areas,” said Ricardo Diaz, chief of the NBI in Central Luzon.

Diaz said the NBI would continue checking other areas in Zambales where Palparan could be hiding.

Zambales is the base of the 24th Infantry Battalion, the home unit of Palparan after his stint in Mindanao. He became its executive officer and commander.

Diaz said the P1-million reward offered by the government for information on Palparan’s whereabouts had helped the NBI get tips on the possible hiding places of the retired general.

In Zambales, police sources said a check in an upland resort in Iba on Monday also failed to find Palparan.

In Bulacan, Palparan’s lawyer, Tricia Santos, on Wednesday asked Malolos Judge Teodora Gonzales to reconsider her order suspending any action on Palparan’s motions pending his surrender or arrest.