Palparan will be caught soon - Bartolome

MANILA, Philippines - Police will soon catch retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., a former military intelligence officer, the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief said yesterday.

Director General Nicanor Bartolome said the police and the National Bureau of Investigation have ways to search for a wanted person.

“Finally, the long arm of the law will catch up with him,” he said in Filipino.

Bartolome has formed tracker teams to locate and arrest Palparan, who is linked to the disappearance of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006.

Bartolome urged the public to help law enforcers arrest Palparan and other military personnel linked to the disappearance of the two.

“Malaking bagay sa amin yung tulong ng community (The community’s help is vital),” he said.

“While our personnel and members of other law enforcement agencies are doing their best, it would help if the community provided information.”

Bartolome said no reward has yet been offered for the arrest of Palparan.

He would meet with Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to discuss the possibility of a reward for the capture of Palparan, he added.

Bartolome advised Palparan to surface and face the charges against him to clear his name.

“That is an opportunity for him to face the charge and his accusers,” he said.