Military offers security for Palparan

FUGITIVE GENERAL Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, wanted for the disappearance of two University of the Philippines students, at the height of his power (left) commanded forces believed to have abducted and summarily executed activists. After three years in hiding, he was caught on Tuesday in Sta. Mesa, Manila, sporting long hair and a goatee. A clean-cut Palparan (right) was presented to the media at the National Bureau of Investigation. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/NBI PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines–The military can send troops to the Bulacan Provincial Jail in the City of Malolos, where retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. is detained, to ensure his safety, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said yesterday.

For the military intelligence chief, Palparan can be detained either at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame or at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) in Camp Aguinaldo—both in Quezon City.

The former Army officer earlier asked that he be detained in Manila instead of the Bulacan jail because of a threat from a New People’s Army hit squad.

Palparan is on trial at the Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 for the kidnapping of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006.

He was captured last week by the Navy Intelligence and Security Force after three years in hiding.

Trillanes, a former Navy officer, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines could help secure Palparan even while he was staying at the Bulacan Provincial Jail.

“The AFP could assign a platoon of soldiers to augment the security personnel there while the lawyers of [retired Major] General Palparan are filing a motion for reconsideration,” Trillanes said in a text message when asked if there was anything the military could do to ensure Palparan’s safety.

The Bulacan RTC on Monday ordered Palparan moved to the provincial jail following his arraignment and despite his objections.

Maj. Gen. Eduardo Año, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division and concurrent Isafp chief, said the military was willing to take custody of Palparan because of serious threats to his life at the Bulacan Provincial Jail.

Año said he agreed with Trillanes’ observation that Palparan’s life would be in danger because of the five communist rebels who are detained in the same jail on several charges.

“In fact, after making the assessment on the threat to his life, it is really recommended that he be detained either at the PNP Custodial Center or if they they will task the Isafp, we can accommodate him but with the permission of the court,” Año said.

Año said the Isafp could also provide security to Palparan when he attends court hearings.