Escudero, Poe laud Palparan arrest team, but…

Sen. Francis Escudero. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Two senators on Tuesday commended the law enforcement agencies, who arrested fugitive Retired General Jovito Palparan, but one of them said that the authorities still have a “long way to go.”

“I congratulate the arresting team but law enforcement agencies still have a long way to go…”  Escudero, in a text message, said, citing other high profile fugitives, who remained at large like former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and his brother, former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, and former Dinagat Island Representative Ruben Ecleo Jr., among others.

“They should continue to persevere…” Escudero said.

Palparan has been in hiding since a warrant of arrest was issued against him by the Malolos regional trial court on charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan. He was arrested early Tuesday in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Senator Grace Poe also welcomed the arrest, saying “the wheels of justice can now finally begin to move.”

“I would like to commend the joint efforts of the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) and the Naval Intelligence unit of the Philippine Navy in the arrest of Jovito Palparan, which finally brought him within the ambit of our justice system,”  Senator  Grace Poe, head of the Senate

committee on public order, said in a text message to reporters.

“Without passing judgment on his guilt, the arrest is a very positive development on the families’ arduous quest to attain justice for them and their missing kin. The wheels of justice can now finally begin to move,” she added.

But even with Palparan’s arrest, Poe expressed doubt if he would admit responsibility to the crimes he has been accused of.

“I doubt that Palparan will readily admit responsibility, but perhaps other witnesses or whistleblowers that were with him in the military can. The important thing is he is now under custody and the families of victims can finally hope for justice,” said Poe.