The Malolos Regional Trial Court decided to transfer retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan to the Custodial Center of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Fort Bonifacio following Palparan’s claim of imminent threat to his life in the provincial jail of Bulacan where he is currently detained.
The retired general is accused for ordering and having a direct hand on the abduction and torture of University of the Philippines’ students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006. Palparan is tagged as ‘The Butcher’ for the spate of human rights violations alleged to be done under his command during the pursuit of Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and 2 which are the counter-insurgency programs of then President Gloria Arroyo.
Human rights group Karapatan however calls the transfer of Palparan an ‘injustice’ to his alleged victims. “The AFP moved heaven and earth to secure and bring back home their impunity icon Palparan. Although not surprising as it is packaged with Palparan’s supposed arrest, the transfer is nonetheless ominous for the case’s trial, eventual prosecution, and jailing of Palparan,” said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay. Karapatan also claims that President Aquino and the Armed Forces is most unlikely to jail Palparan since ‘Palparan clones’ still abound the military forces.
Palparan has been captured by NBI forces in Sta. Mesa, Manila a month ago after years in hiding.
