Jovito Palparan Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra gave Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Gerald Bantag 10 days to explain how a media network was able to interview convict Jovito Palparan while incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Guevarra said the show cause memo was sent to Bantag last May 30 after they conducted their own assessment of Palparan’s interview.
“Sanctions will depend on whether or not the explanation is satisfactory,” Guevarra told reporters.
In 2018, Palparan, together with retired Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado Jr. and Staff Sergeant 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.
Last March, Palparan hogged the headlines after he was a guest in a two-hour interview aired on SMNI News Channel. 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 then asked the BuCor to submit an explanation about what transpired prior to and during the interview.
The DOJ, however, was not satisfied with the explanation as it only revolved around Palparan’s right to free speech.
READ: DOJ: BuCor’s report on allowing Palparan interview ‘insufficient’
Assessing the situation, Guevarra said, “the relevant rules under the Manual of Operations of the BuCor were not properly observed.”
Guevara specifically referred to the “rules on media access of PDLs (persons deprived of liberty), especially high-profile PDLs, which require the Justice Secretary’s authorization and observance of reasonable conditions, such as no discussion of any pending cases before the media.
Meanwhile, Atty. Edre Olalia, President of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) welcomed the action of the DOJ, calling it decisive.
“We welcome and commend this decisive move by the DOJ as we contest the rather self-serving and mostly immaterial and quite tangential claims of the Bucor to justify the subject media interview by SMNI of PDL Gen. Palparan. We look forward to its logical conclusion i.e. heads must roll over this illegal, insensitive, and imprudent display of special treatment by all public officials and entities involved in the stunt,” Olalia said in a statement.
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