Hunt on for Palparan

MANILA, Philippines - Retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan can no longer leave the country after a Malolos City regional trial court (RTC) in Bulacan issued yesterday a hold departure order (HDO) against him following his indictment for the disappearance of University of the Philippines student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed yesterday that Judge Teodora Gonzales of Malolos City RTC Branch 14 had issued the HDO on Palparan and his co-accused, military officers Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado Jr., S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio and M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario.

Last Monday morning, Palparan attempted to fly to Singapore but was stopped by an expired watchlist order (WLO). Palparan was offloaded but not detained since the arrest warrant from the court came later in the afternoon.

CCTV footage from the Bureau of Immigration showed Palparan presenting his passport to an immigration officer behind immigration counter 4. Palparan was wearing a beige jacket, white cap and sunglasses. He was questioned by the immigration officer for a few minutes before he was led to the BI office at the Diosdado macapagal International Airport and prevented from leaving for Singapore.

De Lima had explained that while the WLO was already expired, it would take an order from her office lifting it for Palparan to be able to leave the country. Still, prosecutors applied for an HDO before the RTC.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) had failed to extend the WLO against Palparan due to a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court on its Department Circular No. 41, which gives the department the power to issue WLO and HDO.

Apart from the HDO, De Lima also announced she had ordered a manhunt by the National Bureau of Investigation against Palparan and Hilario, who have reportedly been missing since the issuance of the arrest warrant against them.

She confirmed that efforts to locate the whereabouts of the two accused were unsuccessful.

“I appeal to them to surface and submit themselves to the authorities,” De Lima said.

In the warrant, Palparan’s last residence was listed as Dado St., Wild Cat Village, Barangay Ususan, 1630 Taguig City. Hilario’s last residence, on the other hand, was listed as 7th Infantry Division, Fort Magsaysay, Palanan City, Nueva Ecija and/or Dado St., Wild Cat Village, Barangay Ususan, 1630 Taguig City.

The team that went to Palparan’s residence in Taguig came away empty-handed while an investigator said operatives also visited his residence in 11 Late View Drive, Bagong Ilog in Pasig City but their housemaid claimed she has not seen her boss for over a week now.

Osorio and Anotado, on the other hand, had surrendered to the police last Tuesday.

In indicting the four suspects, the DOJ gave weight to the testimonies of witnesses who were able to establish that Cadapan and Empeño were kidnapped on June 26, 2006 and detained until June 2007.

Floating status

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. yesterday said Anotado has been placed on floating status while Osorio may be subjected to dismissal proceedings.

Burgos said Hilario, who is also in the charge sheet, has not been in active service since 2008.

Burgos said an officer facing charges is placed on floating status to allow him to answer the allegations against him. The process is different for enlisted personnel, as those facing criminal raps would be dismissed from the service.

Burgos said they are ready to cooperate with investigators to shed light on the disappearance of Cadapan and Empeño in 2006

“We will follow the law. If they need resource persons or documents, we will volunteer assistance,” he said.

Committed government

Senator Francis Pangilinan lauded yesterday the government’s commitment to press charges against Palparan and several others for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of Cadapan and Empeño.

Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, expressed hope this will send a strong signal to those believing they are still protected by a cloak of impunity.

Pangilinan called on the courts to also resolve similar cases of disappearances, especially under the past regime.

The senator made the call as Malacañang accused detained former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of protecting Palparan during her administration.

“Retired Major General Jovito Palparan, formerly so bold and brazen, and lavishly coddled by the former administration, is now a fugitive from justice,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

“Come out, come out wherever you are,” Lacierda said in a statement.

“While he no longer has men under his command, and while he can no longer behave with impunity, it is incumbent upon Mr. Palparan to submit to the authorities and face the charges in court,” Lacierda added.

“We hope that he will face the music and face the charges. Surrender now,” he said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Alexis Romero, Christina Mendez, Delon Porcalla