Palparan hiding in Aurora?

BALER, Aurora, Philippines – Is retired major general Jovito Palparan hiding in this province?

Speculations were rife that the former general is hiding in a resort owned by an influential politician.

Palparan used to visit Aurora when he was still commanding general of the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Nueva Ecija.

Newsmen tried to reach 7th Infantry Division chief Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. but he could not be contacted.

One of Mabanta’s subordinates, 702nd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Felicito Trinidad, how­ever, dismissed the report.

“It might be disinformation, but we will verify it. If he is really in Aurora then we will search for him,” he said.

Trinidad said a task force is in charge of hunting down Palparan but his brigade can help in the manhunt.

Earlier, intelligence reports stated that Palparan had been hiding in his poultry farms in the towns of Bongabon and Gen. Tinio in Nueva Ecija.

A farmers’ group in the region mobilized its members to help in the manhunt for Palparan, who is wanted for the kidnapping of two University of the Philippines students in 2006.

Palparan’s men from the 48th Infantry Batallion, led by then Col. Joselito Kakilala, were also suspected of being behind the abduction of activist Joey Estriber in this town on March 3, 2006. Estriber remains missing.

Palparan went into hiding after Bureau of Immigration personnel stopped him from leaving for Singapore on Dec. 19.

A P1-million reward has been offered for his arrest.