Palparan placed on Immigration watch list over missing UP students

MANILA, Philippines—Retired general and former congressman Jovito Palparan Jr. has been placed on the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) watch list following the filing of a criminal complaint against him before the Department of Justice in connection with the disappearance of two students from the University of the Philippines.

Records from the BI showed that besides Palparan, the watch list order, dated July 15, covers Lieutenant Colonels Rogelio Boac and Felipe Anotado, 2nd Lt. Francis Mirabelle Samson, Arnel Enriquez, and Master Sergeants Donald Caigas and Rizal Hilario.

They all face cases involving rape, serious physical injuries, arbitrary detention, maltreatment of prisoners, grave threats, grave coercion and violation of Republic Act 7438, or the law defining the rights of detained persons, all in connection with the disappearance of students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño.

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and all ports in the country have been alerted on the inclusion of Palparan et al. on the watch list.

They cannot leave the country without departure approval from Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.

The two UP students were abducted in 2006 along with farmer Manuel Merino. They were suspected of being members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA). They remain missing up to now.