Malolos court orders Palparan's transfer to Army camp

MANILA, Philippines - The Bulacan court on Monday ordered the transfer of detention of retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan from the provincial jail to the Army detention facility in Makati City due to public anxiety regarding his security.

 

In open court, Judge Teodora Gonzales of the Malolos Regional Trial Court branch 14 ordered the immediate transfer of Palparan to the military camp to be detained while being tried for the serious illegal detention and kidnapping cases in connection with the two missing University of the Philippines (UP) students Sheryln Cadapan and Karen Empeno.

 

Lawyer Edre Olalia, legal counsel of the disappeared students' families, said the judge underscored the "security nightmare" in the part of the local police and jail guards with Palparan's continued detention at the Bulacan Provincial Jail.

 

"The judge also cited the practicality of jailing Palparan at the Army custodial center as the two other accused in the case are now detained there," Olalia said, noting the willingness of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in accommodating the retired military official.

 

Olalia said they have opposed the detention of Palparan at the military camp because it is "like a homecoming" for him, having stayed there for a long time during his active duty.

 

He said they suggested to the court that Palparan be detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig but it noted that it has no jurisdiction over the facility run by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

 

"Nag backdown na nga kami at sinabi namin na sa Camp Bagong Diwa na lang dahil marami rin namang high-profile detainees dun. Ang sabi ng court ay magfile na lang kami ng motion," Olalia said. 

 

Palparan is being pointed to by prosecution witnesses as the mastermind behind the abduction and torture of the two UP students in 2006.