NUPL tells BuCor: Cancel Palparan privileges after SMNI online interview

Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan is serving a maximum prison term of 40 years for the kidnapping of students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines—The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) on Friday called on the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to cancel the special privileges given to retired Major General Jovito Palparan Jr.

In 2018, Palparan, together with retired Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado Jr. and Staff Sergenat Edgardo Osorio were found guilty by Branch 15 of the Malolos City RTC for the 2006 kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan. They were sentenced to up to 40 years of imprisonment.

Palparan hogged the headlines after he was a guest in a two-hour interview aired on SMNI News Channel on Wednesday. The interview was also shared by the NTF-Elcac on its Facebook page.

READ: Badoy claims retired Gen. Palparan a victim of ‘trumped-up charges’

The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier said it “has no knowledge about the subject interview. I’m still checking if any request for permission was filed by Gen. Palparan with the court.”

Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco said BuCor will be submitting an explanation about what transpired prior to and during the interview.

Meanwhile, NUPL, in a three-page letter to BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag, said Palparan should be transferred to the Maximum Security Compound in compliance with the provisions of the Revised Implementing Rules of Republic Act 10575 or the BuCor Act of 2013 as well as the 2000 BuCor Operations Manual.

Palparan was transferred to BuCor in 2018. He was received at the Directorate for Reception and Diagnostics (DRD).

Under the rules, a new inmate has to stay at the Diagnostic Center for 60 days to undergo checkups, counseling, and briefing on prison rules and regulations. The new inmate will also be assessed to determine which reformation program he should undergo during his stay. After that, the inmate will then move to the maximum security compound.

NUPL, however, said Palparan stayed at the DRD for more than a year and was appointed “Governor” or Mayor de Mayores of the DRD.

In 2020, a manifestation was filed before the Malolos Court for Palparan to be taken out of the DRD. He was eventually removed from the DRD. However, NUPL said “Gen. Palparan was transferred not to the Maximum Security Facility but to the Minimum Security Facility of the New Bilibid Prison.”

The Minimum Security Facility is the holding area for prisoners with light sentences or those who are about to be released.

NUPL said the request to interview Palparan should have been denied considering that he is the accused of a pending case. Palparan still has a pending criminal case before a Bulacan Court for the kidnapping and torture of farmer Raymond Manalo while the  Cadapan and Empeno case is pending appeal before the Court of Appeals.

NUPL said future requests for media interviews with Palparan should be denied and that disciplinary sanctions be given to officers and personnel of the BuCor for the special privileges given Palparan.

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DOJ to investigate VIP treatment of Palaparan at Bilibid 

JPV