PALiPARAN

Warrant of Arrest for Palparan and Company

Retired Major General Jovito Palparan Jr. mention before that he would not hide and would face the court, and even said he is not as good as Senator Panfilo Lacson when it comes to hiding.

However, Palparan had tried to fly off from the Diosdado Macapagal Airport in Clark, Pampanga, and even tried to hide his identity. CCTV footage from the Bureau of Immigration showed Palparan presenting his passport to an immigration officer behind immigration counter 4. Palparan was wearing a beige jacket, white cap and sunglasses. He was questioned by the immigration officer for a few minutes before he was led to the Bureau of Immigration office.

So we better be cautious and observant as he might try to fly off again on a different “Paliparan.”

I just hope Lacson did not share his “warrant of arrest evading skills” to Palparan.

The Malolos City regional trial court (RTC) earlier issued arrest warrants for retired Major General Jovito Palparan Jr., Master Sgt. Rizal Hilario, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado Jr. and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio in connection with the disappearance of UP student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006.

Anotado and Osorio surrendered to the AFP provost marshall and were immediately brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. Palparan and Hilario remain at large.

DOJ Secretary Laila De Lima, meanwhile, said Palparan's attempt to leave the country via a Sea Air flight to Singapore was an attempt to evade facing the charges.

Palparan was off-loaded from the plane the day that his case of kidnapping and illegal detention was set to be raffled off. He could not be arrested because there was no warrant of arrest yet and only a watchlist order, though expired was still effective until the DOJ had it lifted, so he was just kept from leaving the country.

Nicknamed "The Butcher" by activist groups, Palparan is the former commander of the Army's 7th Infantry Division when extra-judicial killings and disappearances of militants occurred.

Palparan's indictment is the first time in recent years that a military official has been hailed to court for human rights violations.

Cyberspace Manhunt

There is now a manhunt for Palparan spreading in cyberspace.

The End Impunity Alliance, a network of victims of human rights violations, human rights defenders and civil libertarians, is urging all Filipino netizens to post Palparan's wanted posters on their Facebook pages and other social networking media to help capture the elusive military officer.

Cristina Palabay, convenor of End Impunity Alliance, said the online campaign is part of the call of a "people's manhunt"

"By posting Palparan's poster in their Facebook account profiles, we hope to generate vigilance among social networking users and the broader public outside the Internet so that they will know what he looks like and give information on his whereabouts," says Palabay.

I just hope my FB friends don't "unfriend" me when they see Palparan's picture on my profile.

Coddlers Beware

Malacañang warned possible coddlers of Palparan, saying they too would be held liable under the justice system.

 “The law is very clear on that. You hide someone who’s a fugitive from justice, you can be considered an accessory to the crime,” says Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

“We would like to ask the public to cooperate and if they have any valid sighting of General Palparan, please inform the authorities, the NBI and the PNP. Ang pakiusap lang po namin, huwag naman hong gawing playtime at mag-report ng bogus sightings of UFO, ay Palparan pala,” added Lacierda.

“While he no longer has men under his command, and while he can no longer behave with impunity, it is incumbent upon Palparan to submit to the authorities and face the charges in court. We hope that he will face the music and face the charges. Surrender now.” again Lacierda says.

“Palparan, formerly so bold and brazen, and lavishly coddled by the former administration, is now a fugitive from justice. Come out, come out wherever you are.” continues Lacierda.



Final Note/Huling Hirit:

I laud the government’s commitment to press charges against Palparan and several others.

I call on the courts to also resolve similar cases of disappearances, especially under the past regime.

I hope this will send a strong signal to those believing they are still protected by a cloak of impunity.

Your days are numbered already.