Joint AFP, NBI teams arrest fugitive Major Gen. Palparan

Retired General Jovito Palparan faced the media earlier today, says he is expecting arrest. Photo: Carlo Mateo / DZBB via Twitter

MANILA — Operatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested fugitive Major Gen. Jovito Palparan, who is wanted for the disappearance of two UP coeds and a string of human rights violation cases, during operations in Manila Tuesday morning.

The arrest took place around 3: 30 a.m. in a house located at Teresa and Old Sta. Mesa sts. in Manila, AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.

Palparan went into hiding after a Bulacan Regional Trial Court judge issued a warrant arrest for him, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado Jr., Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio and Master Sgt. Rizal Hilario in 2011 for the disappearance of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan on June 26, 2006.

Anotado and Osorio voluntarily surrendered. Hilario remain at- large.

He added that AFP units were aided by the NBI’s Anti-Organized Crime Division.

Palparan was immediately brought to the NBI headquarters in Taft Avenue, Manila for questioning.

The AFP participation in the arrest of the fugitive major general was borne out by the instructions of President Benigno S. Aquino III to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin last December 12, ordering the military intelligence units to track and pursue leads that will led to the successful arrest of Palparan and other high profile fugitives.

“All of our intelligence units (Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other intelligence gathering units of the military) were told to help in tracking down and arresting high profile fugitives so that they will brought to the bars of justice,” Zagala said.

These intelligence units form part of Task Force “Runway”, which is spearheaded by the NBI, he added.

Zagala said that they managed to track down Palparan in Sta. Mesa, Manila through their intelligence build-up.

He added that the Palparan did not resist arrest although he appeared hesitant at first to go with NBI operatives.

No firearms or weapons were confiscated from the retired major general.

Zagala said that they are now looking into the possibilities that some people have sheltered Palparan during his long flight from the law.

“I think those are one of the areas (of) concern, we believe that there are some people who are helping him, as evidence by our tracking. There are some in Zambales, Cagayan De Oro and Leyte who have harbored him,” the AFP public affairs office chief stressed.

He added that the successful arrest of Palparan shows that the AFP is not hiding him as claimed by some militant groups.

“The mere fact that we created a task force of all intelligence units led by Major Gen. Eduardo Ano, and that it only shows the professionalism of the AFP that there is no truth to that, we are professional unit, we are professional organization as attested by our intelligence units who did not cover for him despite the fact that he (Palparan) was a former intelligence operative,” Zagala pointed out.

He also assures friends and relatives of Palparan that the latter’s rights will be protected aside from giving him security to ensure that no harm will fall to him during his trial and detention.