Lawyers block Palparan’s bid to leave detention to process poll registration

THE National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) blocked the bid of former Major General Jovito Palparan to leave detention to process the changes in his voter’s registration.

Palparan who declared he will also run for senator filed a motion for leave before the Malolos, Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 15 and asked the court to allow him to go to the Office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Ususan, Taguig either on Oct. 6 or Oct. 7 to transfer his registration from Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal to Ususan, Taguig and to change his address as a voter and submit his required biometrics.

Palparan, who is currently detained at the Philippine Army Custodial Center (PACC), is facing two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the abduction of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006. Palparan was the commanding general of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division at the time of the abduction.

NUPL led by Atty. Edre Olalia told the court that there is no reason to grant Palparan’s request for one, he is a flight risk.

“It can be remembered that the accused went into hiding for nearly three years after the Honorable Court issued warrant for his arrest…Given the accused’s history and public record as a fugitive, it is only sound and just, and there is reasonable basis, to deny him of any opportunity to escape and evade the law once again, plausibly under the guise of an electoral exercise,” NUPL said in their opposition.

NUPL, who represents the families of Cadapan and Empeño, added that granting Palparan’s request would be tantamount to a special accommodation considering that like Palparan, there are thousands of detention prisoners who are also qualified to vote.

“If accused is granted the special privilege of leaving the premises of his detention facility supposedly in order to process his registration with the Comelec, the same must be given to the rest. Otherwise, the accused will have been granted unwarranted favor, entitlement and preference due to his political ambitions and self-serving view of himself,” NUPL added.

NUPL added that Palparan misrepresented himself when he included in his request the need for him to submit to the required biometrics when Comelec website showed that the general has been issued a voter’s ID card.

“According to the Comelec, only registrants whose biometrics (i.e. photograph, fingerprint and signature) have been successfully captured digitally using Comelec’s Voter’s Registration Machine during the filing of application may be issued a voter’s ID card,” the opposition stated.

NUPL added that Comelec has already set up satellite offices for detention prisoners pursuant to Resolution No. 9371.

With regards to his plan to file his certificate of candidacy, NUPL said it can be done by his duly authorized representative.