Retired General and former Congressman Jovito Palparan Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Lawmakers on Monday said President Benigno Aquino III was taking a “big hit” from the failure of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to capture prominent fugitives like retired Major General Jovito Palparan and former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes.
“The PNP’s failure to arrest and jail high-profile fugitives like Palparan thoroughly undermines the Aquino administration’s claims that it is committed to reforming the justice system and ending impunity,” said ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio.
Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño said that while the blame should rightfully fall on the police and military, the President was also seen as liable for not demanding more from his men or for tolerating incompetence.
“For such high profile, well-connected suspects or criminals like Reyes or Palparan, the President is expected to weigh in to ensure that police and military operatives are able to overcome their own limitations and resist the corrupt “padrino” system that protects such fugitives. In this way, the PNP’s failures reflect on the President as well,” Casiño said.
Akbayan Representative Walden Bello said Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo should also get the “onus of responsibility.”
“There is no excuse for Palparan remaining loose after over six months,” Bello said, adding that these people were able to evade arrest because authorities were protecting them.
He said the AFP was part of the problem. “P-Noy (Aquino) should discipline AFP people who are suspected of shielding Palparan. He should also carry out a reshuffle of the PNP command and raise the bounty for Palparan’s capture to P10 million,” said the Akbayan representative.
The Bulacan Regional Trial Court issued an arrest warrant against Palparan last December 20 after he was charged in connection with the disappearance of two activists six years ago.
Former Palawan Governor Joel T. Reyes INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Reyes has been the subject of an arrest warrant, along with his brother and two aides, for the murder of environmentalist-broadcaster Gerry Ortega on Jan. 24, 2011.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters on Monday she believed that both Palparan and Reyes were still in the Philippines.
“Since both of them have outstanding warrants of arrest, they won’t be able to slip out easily unless they use some means like the backdoor,” she said, referring to Mindanao.
“But of course, it’s understood that possible ports of exit are also being guarded,” she added.
De Lima warned that those protecting the two men could be charged with obstruction of justice.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a press statement it had asked General Jessie Dellosa, AFP chief of staff, to cooperate with civilian authorities in the investigation of Palparan.
“Every day that Palparan avoids arrest further damages the military’s reputation,” said HRW deputy director for Asia Elaine Pearson.
“The Armed Forces leadership needs to send a message that they, and not abjusive officers, are in control,” she added. With reports from Philip C. Tubeza, Leila B. Salaverria and Dona Z. Pazzibugan