Lawmaker bares move to free Palparan

MANILA, Philippines — There are efforts from the Duterte administration to have retired military general Jovito Palparan freed on bail, a lawmaker said yesterday.

In a news forum, ACT Teacher party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said he received information about “an effort to have Palparan released on bail” but he did not name the people moving for Palparan’s release.

He made the revelation following reports quoting Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. as saying most soldiers will be delighted if Palparan is released.

“They came out a with a statement hoping Palparan is released since a lot of peole with the AFP idolize him,” said Tinio. “We need to closely guard this.”

The former general and congressman is currently detained at the Philippine Army headquarters in Taguig City. He was arrested in 2014 for the disappearances of activist students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno.

Leftist groups have called Palparan a butcher for his alleged involvement in disappearances and torture of activists when he was still in the military.

Palparan is currently on trial in a Bulacan court for the disappearances of Cadapan and Empeno.