Detained Palparan seeking Senate seat

Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. RAFFY LERMA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

CITY OF MALOLOS– Retired army general Jovito Palparan on Wednesday declared he is seeking a seat in the Senate, and has asked a local court to permit him to leave his jail cell so he could validate his voter’s registration at the local poll office.

Palparan, who has been dubbed by human rights group as “The Butcher,” is standing trial for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of missing University of the Philippine students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno, along with three other army officers.

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In his petition, Palparan informed the court that he retains the right to seek public office because he has not been convicted for any crime.

Bulacan Regional Trial Court Judge Alexander Tamayo of Branch 15 gave the government prosecutors five days to comment on Palparan’s petition.

Palparan was a former party-list representative of The True Marcos Loyalist (For God, Country and People) Association of the Philippines, or Bantay in short.