Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. RAFFY LERMA / INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines-Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Judge Teodora Gonzales granted the petition of Retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan Jr. to be transferred to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Custodial Center in Fort Bonifacio Monday.
Palparan’s camp filed a motion last Sept. 1 asking their client to be transferred to the custody of the Philippine Army Custodial Center or the detention center of the Intelligence and Security Group at the AFP Custodial Center citing threats to his life.
Palparan filed the motion after the court rejected his bid to stay at the National Bureau of Investigation.
But the camp of Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan opposed Palparan’s bid saying Palparan failed to present concrete and credible threats.
“Accused Palparan simply invokes the many ghosts and demons of his past-imaginary or real-as grounds to show he is entitled to the detention facility of his choosing,” the opposition filed by Lawyer Edre Olalia, of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers representing Empeño and Cadapan said.
The retired army general has been detained in the Bulacan Provincial Jail since Aug. 18.
Olalia said Palparan’s transfer “will serve as a bad precedent and example for all those who can wreak evil and get concessions along the way.”
Palparan was arrested last Aug. 12 by virtue of an arrest warrant linking him to the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines-Diliman students Cadapan and Empeño in 2006.
Olalia said they appealed the court’s ruling twice but were denied by the court.
They also suggested that instead of Fort Bonifacio, he be moved to Camp Bagong Diwa.
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