Mike Arroyo lawyer is Palparan’s counsel

Judge Teodora Gonzales of the Regional Trial Court in Malolos, Bulacan, received on Tuesday documents proving that lawyer Jesus Santos was authorized to represent retired Major General Jovito Palparan.

Santos, whose clients used to include the husband of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, presented to the court a signed letter from Palparan’s wife, Evangelina Palparan, hiring him to represent her husband. She also issued a separate signed statement informing the court that her husband, through a telephone call, had asked Santos to join his defense team.

Clerk of Court Melba David said Narzal Mallares, Palparan’s lead counsel, had affirmed Santos’ authority to join the defense team and presented a document showing his support for the latter.

At a hearing on Monday, Gonzales questioned Santos’ authority to represent Palparan and ruled that unless backed by proof, the information he offered that University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan were alive could not be accepted by the court.

Santos asked the court to put on record the information that he supposedly obtained on Sunday indicating the two students were alive.

“[On Sunday] night, I was informed that the two missing students were still alive. I will inform the authorities of this [and ask them] to check if this is true. It will spare the good general (Palparan) of the charges filed against him,” Santos said.

Against court order

But Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera pointed out that the court had ordered Santos to submit an authorization document signed by Palparan.

He told reporters that he would move for Santos’ removal as defense counsel for failing to comply with the court order and for the deletion of the latter’s pleadings.

“It’s clear they can prove their authority to appear for Palparan. The best thing is for Palparan to surrender to the court and tell the court,  ‘Attorney Santos is my lawyer.’ Of course, that will not happen,” Navera said.

He said that without telling the police, Santos or anybody else could contact or meet Palparan just to obtain the latter’s signature. That person, he said, might be charged with obstruction of justice for coddling a fugitive.

According to Navera, the authorization of Palparan’s wife has no effect because she is not a party to the case.

Motion for transfer

Navera also said he would move for the transfer of Palparan’s coaccused, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and Sgt. Edgardo Osorio, from military to police custody because the complaint against them was lodged in a civilian court and not a military court.

The next hearing is scheduled on February 6. Reports from Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon; Jerome Aning in Manila