Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. RAFFY LERMA / INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
CITY OF MALOLOS, Philippines—Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. was calmer after spending his first night Monday at the Bulacan Provincial Jail here, a jail official said.
“He is a bit relaxed now. His fears disappeared when he realized he was safe here,” provincial jail warden Pepito Plamenco, a retired Philippine Air Force official, said on Tuesday.
Palparan is standing trial for kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, who were last seen in Hagonoy town in Bulacan in June 2006.
During his arraignment at the sala of Judge Teodora Gonzales of the Regional Trial Court Branch 14, Palparan pleaded with the court to allow his continued detention at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters in Manila due to what he said were threats to his life.
Gonzales, however, denied Palparan’s motion, saying officials of the provincial jail had assured her that the facility can secure him.
Palparan, who was arrested in Manila on Aug. 12 after more than two years in hiding, spent the night alone in a room prepared by jail officials last week to separate him from the 2,000 inmates here.
Another inmate, Edgardo Francisco, 77, has been held for a month now in another isolation room next to Palparan’s room.
A former preacher, Francisco told the Inquirer earlier that he was excited about sharing the cell with Palparan, with whom, he said, he can have intelligent conversations.
Jail officials said Palparan could also seek guidance from former policeman, Ricardo Ibera, an inmate leader.
Ordinary inmate
“[Palparan] is an ordinary inmate here, just like the others,” Plamenco said. “No cell phones allowed, no VIP (Very Important Person) treatment whatsoever.”
He said Palparan brought his own set of bedding and was lent an electric fan by Ibera.
Palparan was served bean sprouts for dinner on Monday night, like the rest of the inmates. His breakfast on Tuesday was a bowl of sotanghon (noodle soup).
Like the other inmates, Palparan would be entitled to visitors from 1 to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and conjugal visits on Friday and Saturday and holidays, Plamenco said.
Palparan’s first visitors were supporters who brought him packs of food and juice. They took part in a pro-Palparan rally at the provincial capitol grounds during his arraignment on Monday. The call of his supporters, however, was drowned out by activists who stormed Palparan when he was escorted to the provincial jail after his court appearance.
Plamenco said Palparan was also in good health.
He underwent a mandatory medical checkup at the facility’s clinic Monday noon after his arraignment, and was informed that his blood pressure was normal.
Palparan was also examined for signs of tuberculosis but test results showed he was clear of that disease, Plamenco said.
He said the NBI had sent Palparan’s medical records, which indicated he was healthy although he was undernourished.
Senior Supt. Ferdinand Divina, Bulacan provincial police director, said teams from the police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) have been standing guard at the facility, to augment security there.
Plamenco said two jail guards, who were assigned to secure the areas near the jail’s chapel, have been reassigned to secure Palparan.
He said law enforcers are close enough should they be needed.
The Bulacan Provincial Jail is about 50 meters from the NBI district office in Bulacan and is 200 meters from the Bulacan provincial police headquarters.
Father Rolly de Leon, former head of human rights group Alyansa ng Mamamayan para sa Karapatan, joined the Monday rally against Palparan at the courthouse, saying the former Army officer was responsible for 75 murders.
In a statement, lawyer Edre Olalia, secretary general of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) who assists the families of Cadapan and Empeño, said Palparan should not resort to role-playing.
“Palparan is the accused here, not the victim. No role-playing, please,” Olalia said.