Palparan continues to defy CA

Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan continues to defy the order of the Court of Appeals (CA) asking him to appear before the court in connection with the disappearance of two University of the Philippines (UP) coeds in Hagonoy, Bulacan last June 26.

Palparan, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, did not appear for the fourth time before the CA’s eighth division yesterday to testify on the whereabouts of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno.

Assistant Solicitor General Amparo Tang, who represented Palparan and his co-respondents in the habeas corpus hearing, said Palparan met with Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon regarding his retirement on Sept. 11.

"Gen. Palparan is in a conference with the chief of staff. He is retiring soon and there are many things that he has to attend to before his retirement," Tang said.

This prompted lawyer Rex Fernandez, legal counsel of the families of Cadapan and Empeno, to ask the CA to cite Palparan in contempt for repeatedly ignoring its order.

Militant groups have accused Palparan of masterminding extra-judicial killings and the disappearances of activists and leaders of leftist groups.

Although the CA did not do so, Associate Justice Elvi John Asuncion gave Palparan an ultimatum to attend the next hearing on Sept. 20.

Aside from Palparan, the other respondents are Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, former head of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command; Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac, commanding officer of Task Force Bulacan; Lt. Francis Mirabelle Samson, and a certain Arnel Enriquez.