HR victims to meet Palparan in court today

MALOLOS CITY , Philippines  – Families of alleged human rights victims will take the opportunity to see former Army general Jovito Palparan at the courthouse here today.

Palparan, branded by militants and leftist groups as “The Butcher,” is scheduled to be brought from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) main office in Manila to the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14 for arraignment.

“They will never pass the chance to be there. They waited for this for eight years,” private prosecutor Edre Olalia said.

Palparan is charged with two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the alleged abduction of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherilyn Cadapan in Hagonoy, Bulacan on June 26, 2006.

Olalia, who represents the Cadapan and Empeño families , said the families of other victims of Palparan will be gathered to give support.

Olalia said today’s hearing will revolve around rescheduling the arraignment and discussions over Palparan’s motion to remain under NBI custody.

The prosecution is also set to present the last evidence against co-accused Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio in the case.

After the court issued the arrest warrant in 2011, Palparan went into hiding for over two years until the NBI and military intelligence operatives caught him in a dilapidated house in Manila on Aug. 12.

Palparan claimed he chose life as a fugitive because of the threats against him by the communist New People’s Army, which branded him as a “dead man walking.”

Militant groups want Palparan to face charges of human rights violations, including the abduction and disappearance of the two UP students.

The court asked the NBI to present Palparan and commit him to the provincial jail.

Palparan, through his counsel, however, filed a motion before the court on Thursday asking to remain under NBI custody for security reasons.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said the threat against Palparan was real.

“We were informed of the existing threats to the life of General Palparan,” he said.

Trillanes maintained Palparan should be placed in military custody.

“This is proper since the alleged crimes he committed were related to his functions as a commander of the Philippine Army,” said the former Navy officer.

Trillanes said Palparan’s case may set a precedent for military officers who face lawsuits in performing their duty even after their separation from the service.

“This effort does not mean to absolve General Palparan of the charges he is facing and I am sure that the Armed Forces will not intervene in the legal processes. We are only aiming to ensure that he is protected from any acts of retribution while in detention,” Trillanes said.

Lawyer Oliver Lozano also came to the defense of Palparan, decrying militant groups for branding the former Army general as “The Butcher.”

Lozano said Palparan advocated the compensation of human rights victims using the Marcos ill-gotten wealth.

Lozano added Palparan has also proposed the release of all political prisoners.

He lamented Palparan’s rights of due process and presumption of innocence were violated by militant groups who have resorted to a trial by publicity in accusing the former general of human rights violations.

Malacañang, for its part, said there would be no special treatment for Palparan. Palparan may have been a respected military officer but he will be no different this time from other detainees facing charges in court, Press Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said. – With Delon Porcalla, Christina Mendez, Perseus Echeminada