Eduardo Año. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Amid the call of retired Major General Jovito Palparan to be detained at a military facility, an official from the Armed Forces of the Philippines echoed his call.
If the court would allow it.
Major General Eduardo Año, Intelligence Services of the AFP chief, said that the military can put Palparan under their custody if the court gives the order as Palparan faces a “real threat” in Bulacan Provincial Jail.
Año said that there are five members of the New People’s Army detained in Bulacan Provincial Jail who pose a threat to the retired general labeled by leftist group as the “butcher.”
“The threat to General Palparan is very real,” Año said Monday afternoon. “It’s hard that the five NPA rebels are detained with him.”
Attorney Normal Mallards, Palparan’s legal counsel, said in a separate INQUIRER report that the detained NPA rebels in Bulacan Provincial Jail are members of the “liquidation squad.”
Año said that the ISAFP is “very much willing” to accommodate Palparan if the court allows Palparan to be transferred to their custody.
“It is recommended that he should be detained either in the Philippine National Police Custodial Center or the AFP Custodial Center or if they task the ISAFP we can provide accommodation for him,” Año said.
“He deserves his day in court hence his safety must be ensured,” Año said.
On Monday morning, the Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 14 entered a not guilty plea for Palparan.
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