Parents dare Palparan: Face us -INQUIRER.net

Parents dare Palparan: Face us
By Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon
February 12, 2012

The families of missing University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño dared fugitive retired general Jovito Palparan to turn himself in and face them.

They want to confront Palparan about a statement he made through his lawyer on Friday saying that he would not surrender because the missing students were still alive.

The two students have been missing since 2006.

Lawyer Edre Olalia, counsel of the Cadapan and Empeño families, said Palparan should “stop putting [his own] lawyers on the spot… [by making them] trifle with the emotions of suffering mothers [when they issue] recklessly bare claims that their young and abused daughters are still  alive.”

Palparan’s lawyer, Jesus Santos, wrote the National Bureau of Investigation on Feb. 1 to say that the missing students were alive.

Palparan’s statement also said that the fugitive retired major general would “try [his] best not to surrender since the filing of  the cases against [him] was done illegally.”

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Rights group: Army coddling Palparan

Rights group: Army coddling Palparan
By Inquirer Central Luzon, Leila B. Salaverria, Tonette Orejas
February 2, 2012

The fugitive Jovito Palparan may be under the protection of Armed Forces personnel and business owners, and President Benigno Aquino III should order the military to help arrest him, an international human rights group said Wednesday.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement there were apprehensions as well that the military could be interfering in the civilian judicial process, as indicated by the transfer to military custody of two of the coaccused of the retired major general tagged by activists as “Berdugo” (Butcher).

“President Aquino should get the message to the military that the years of protecting Palparan for grievous abuses are over,” HRW deputy Asia director Elaine Pearson said in the statement.

“Officers and soldiers alike should be on notice that if they block civilian authorities in arresting Palparan, they too will face legal consequences,” Pearson said.

Palparan is charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the disappearance of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006.

Prosecuting him will show that the Aquino administration is taking the Philippines in a new direction, according to Pearson.

“Palparan has become a symbol of the widespread lack of accountability for atrocities in the Philippines today,” she said.

Read complete story @ newsinfo.inquirer.net

Walang shoot to kill order vs Palparan, ayon kay Robredo

Walang shoot to kill order vs Palparan, ayon kay Robredo
GMA News
February 2, 2012

Ibinasura ni Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo ang mga suwestiyon na magpalabas ng shoot to kill order laban sa nagtatagong si retired military general Jovito Palparan.

Iginiit ng kalihim na dapat mahuli ng buhay si Palparan para maiharap sa korte at malitis sa kasong nakabinbin sa Bulacan, kaugnay sa pagkawala ng dalawang estudyante ng University of the Philippines.

“Ginagawa naman namin ang lahat, at ayaw kong magbigay ng shoot to kill order," pahayag ni Robredo sa media matapos magsalita sa dinaluhang talakayan sa Bulacan.

Read complete story @ www.gmanetwork.com

AFP dares rights group to name Palparan coddlers

AFP dares rights group to name Palparan coddlers
GMA News
February 1, 2012

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday challenged the group Human Rights Watch to identify the military personnel allegedly coddling retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan, who is wanted for the disappearance of two student-activists in 2006.

“We challenge them to submit names, you file a complaint and this will be addressed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos at a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo.

He was reacting to the reported request of Elaine Person, HRW's deputy Asia director, to President Benigno Aquino III to send the message to the AFP that the years of protecting Palparan are over.

She also reportedly said Aquino should also tell the AFP to cooperate with civilian authorities in the prosecution of Palparan.

Read complete story @ www.gmanetwork.com

Pulis, itinangging nagtatago si Palparan sa Aurora

Pulis, itinangging nagtatago si Palparan sa Aurora

January 22, 2012

Pinabulaanan ng Aurora provincial police office ang kumakalat na usap-usapang nagtatago umano si Retired Major General Jovito Palparan sa isang resort sa lalawigan ng Aurora.

Kumalat ang balita tungkol kay Palparan matapos umano ipinagbawal ang pagpasok ng mga bisita sa isang resort sa Aurora, at pagbawalan na lumapit ang mga mangingisda doon.

Sa panayam ng GMA News, inihayag ni Aurora Provincial Police director Senior Superintendent Benjamin Hulipas na hindi nila namataan doon ang puganteng dating opisyal ng militar.

Ayon sa kanya, negatibo ang resulta sa isinagawa nilang raids sa mga hotel at travellers' inn ng Aurora, kabilang na ang nasabing resort.

"Immediately ng matanggap namin ang information na [namataan doon si Palparan], pinakilos ko ang mga pulis ng Aurora at yung initial na lakad nila, yung verification, yung veracity ng report na yun e negative naman, wala si General Palparan sa sinasabing lugar na yun," ayon kay Hulipas.

Kasalakuyang nagtatago si Palparan matapos maglabas ang Bulacan court ng arrest warrant laban sa kanya at dalawa pang militar sa kasong kidnapping at serious illegal detention ng dalawang aktibistang mag-aaral noong 2006.

Read complete article @ www.gmanetwork.com

Palparan must surrender if he's innocent - Palace

Palparan must surrender if he's innocent - Palace 
By Aurea Calica and Edith Regalado (The Philippine Star)
January 15, 2012

MANILA, Philippines - Fugitive retired Army Maj. Jovito Palparan must surrender now and defend himself before the courts if he is really innocent of the charges against him, Malacañang said yesterday.

“If he really thinks he is innocent, he should come out and face the charges against him,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over dzRB.

The Palace was reacting to Palparan’s appealing the decision of the Malolos regional trial court to junk his bid to stop his prosecution for the disappearance of University of the Philippines student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006. Valte said Palparan is assured of fair trial.

Read full article @ www.philstar.com

Palparan won't surrender, says lawyer

Palparan won't surrender, says lawyer
by Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com
January 13, 2012

MANILA, Philippines -- Fugitive retired general Jovito Palaran will not surrender and will continue challenging the warrant for his arrest, one of his lawyers said Friday.

Palparan’s newly hired counsel, Jesus Santos, insisted his client is "innocent" of the abduction and enforced disappearance of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan.

Santos was the lawyer of Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He said the government would be better off using the P1 million reward it has raised for Palparan’s capture for assisting the families of soldiers killed in the line of duty.

Short of advising his client to remain in hiding, Santos said that, "as a lawyer and as an individual, since there is a petition we filed in court to conduct the preliminary investigation because the arrest warrant was issued not in accordance with law, I think it is good to wait for whatever maybe the decision of the Regional Trial Court of Bulacan," where the case against Palparan has been filed.

Read full article @ www.interaksyon.com

Palparan's hearing reset for Feb. 6

Palparan's hearing reset for Feb. 6 
By Dino Balabo, The Philippine Star
January 13, 2012  

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan’s hearing today was reset for Feb. 6, the original schedule.

Prosecutor Edre Olalia said he learned from the Department of Justice yesterday that Malolos Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 here will not hear Palparan’s motion for reconsideration.

The case will be heard on Feb. 6, along with other motions as per agreement of the parties on Jan. 2, he added.

Olalia said he was surprised to learn that Palparan’s counsel has filed a motion for an immediate court proceeding today.

Palparan’s counsel claimed inaction on the part of Judge Teodora Gonzales on their omnibus motion filed last Jan. 2, he added.

The motion prayed for the recall of the warrant of arrest and hold departure order against Palparan, and for the suspension of proceedings.

Palparan along with Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario and S/ Sgt. Eduardo Osorio, has been charged for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

Palparan and Hilario remain at large, while Anotado and Osorio have surrendered.

Read complete article @ www.philstar.com

Wanted Palparan by PAHRA