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Palparan arrested by NBI in Manila
(Updated 11:52 a.m.) After almost three years in hiding, retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila, dzBB radio reported Tuesday morning.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said in an interview with GMA News' Arnold Clavio on the morning program Unang Hirit that Palparan will remain at the NBI for now while the Department of Justice and the NBI await a commitment order from the court that has jurisdiction over Palparan's case.
"Sinimulan nila kahapon i-monitor ang location na 'yan. Magdamag nila tiniktikan. Nang na-confirm na siya, 'yan, inaresto," De Lima said in a separate interview on dzBB radio.
Palparan was brought to the NBI headquarters in Manila before 4 a.m., radio dzBB's James Agustin said. The report cited sources who said Palparan was brought in through a supposedly secret passageway.
At the time of his arrest, Palparan had a P2-million bounty. He went into hiding December 2011.
A Bulacan court issued in 2011 an arrest warrant against Palparan, who is charged with two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in the alleged abduction of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño.
When the supposed abduction took place, Palparan was commander of the Army 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.
At the time of his arrest, Palparan had a P2-million bounty. He went into hiding December 2011.
A Bulacan court issued in 2011 an arrest warrant against Palparan, who is charged with two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in the alleged abduction of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño.
When the supposed abduction took place, Palparan was commander of the Army 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.
Palparan, however, on Tuesday denied any involvement in the abduction of Cadapan and Empeño in June 2006.
"Never akong nagkaroon ng feeling ng guilt. Gusto kong harapin ang kaso, at kung patas lang ang judge, I will win that case," Palparan said in an interview on GMA News TV's News To Go.
At NBI for now
At NBI for now
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said in an interview with GMA News' Arnold Clavio on the morning program Unang Hirit that Palparan will remain at the NBI for now while the Department of Justice and the NBI await a commitment order from the court that has jurisdiction over Palparan's case.
"Sinimulan nila kahapon i-monitor ang location na 'yan. Magdamag nila tiniktikan. Nang na-confirm na siya, 'yan, inaresto," De Lima said in a separate interview on dzBB radio.
Palparan was arrested by a composite team of the NBI Anti-Organized Crime Division and the Armed Forces' Naval Intelligence Group.
She said the retired general was arrested at about 3 a.m. in Sta. Mesa, Manila, after authorities sighted him Monday.
Palparan did not resist arrest.
A report by radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo said Palparan looked like a "hermit" when arrested.
A haggard-looking retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan is seen a few minutes after he was arrested by National Bureau of Investigation agents at a house in Sta. Mesa, Manila before dawn Tuesday, August 12. A Bulacan court issued in 2011 an arrest warrant against Palparan, who is charged with two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in the alleged abduction of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño. John Consulta/NBI/HO
De Lima also said two people were with Palparan at the time, one of them she described as the owner of the house. Both surrendered to authorities as well.
Also, De Lima said there was no initial indication Palparan left the country while he was in hiding.
At Camp Aguinaldo, military information chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said: "He (Palparan) was reluctant to be arrested but after seeing the AFP (was among the arresting units), he willingly surrendered. He came with the arresting officers of the NBI and NISF, meaning he did not resist arrest."
Time to face the charges
Malacañang on Tuesday welcomed the arrest of Palparan, saying it is time for him to face the charges against him in court.
"Mainam na maaari na siyang humarap sa hukuman at sumailalim sa mga proseso ng katarungan," Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
Militant groups, meanwhile, warned the government against giving Palparan special treatment.
"Ikulong! Panagutin! No special treatment!" said Anakbayan chairman Vencer Crisostomo.
At Camp Aguinaldo, military information chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said: "He (Palparan) was reluctant to be arrested but after seeing the AFP (was among the arresting units), he willingly surrendered. He came with the arresting officers of the NBI and NISF, meaning he did not resist arrest."
Time to face the charges
Malacañang on Tuesday welcomed the arrest of Palparan, saying it is time for him to face the charges against him in court.
"Mainam na maaari na siyang humarap sa hukuman at sumailalim sa mga proseso ng katarungan," Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
Militant groups, meanwhile, warned the government against giving Palparan special treatment.
"Ikulong! Panagutin! No special treatment!" said Anakbayan chairman Vencer Crisostomo.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said it will hold an emergency action in front of the NBI to demand justice for Palparan's "victims."
The Arroyo administration had praised Palparan for his counterinsurgency campaigns from 2001 to 2006, but the Melo Commission reported there was "certainly evidence pointing the finger of suspicion at some elements and personalities in the armed forces, in particular General Palparan, as responsible for an undetermined number of killings, by allowing, tolerating, and even encouraging the killings."
Zagala said the arrest of Palparan should lay to rest accusations by leftist organizations that the retired Army general was being coddled by his former comrades.
"There is no truth to that. We are a professional unit, we are a professional organization. Even our intelligence units, because he used to be assigned with the intelligence community, did not cover for him. In fact, we led the efforts to find him," Zagala said.
The Arroyo administration had praised Palparan for his counterinsurgency campaigns from 2001 to 2006, but the Melo Commission reported there was "certainly evidence pointing the finger of suspicion at some elements and personalities in the armed forces, in particular General Palparan, as responsible for an undetermined number of killings, by allowing, tolerating, and even encouraging the killings."
Palparan retired from the military in 2006, and won a seat in Congress through Bantay, an anti-communist party-list group.
In 2010, he ran for a Senate seat but failed in that bid. — Joel Locsin/ELR/KG/RSJ, GMA News
