BuCor denies special treatment for Palparan

MUNTINLUPA , Philippines — An official of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) yesterday denied reports that former Army general Jovito Palparan has been receiving special treatment at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa.

Palparan is being held at the NBP’s Reception and Diagnostic Center for an extended period of time because of supposed threats to his life, according to BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag.

Bantag maintained that Palparan is not getting special treatment contrary to the allegations of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL).

The group said Palparan should be detained at the national penitentiary’s maximum security compound.

In 2018, Palparan was sentenced to up to 40 years in prison for kidnapping two University of the Philippines students – Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan – in 2006.

A month after Palparan was convicted, he was transferred from the military detention facility to Bilibid.

Under the rules, new inmates have to stay at the diagnostic center for only 60 days to undergo checkups, counseling and briefing about prison regulations.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he would look into the allegations of the NUPL.