Palace: Palparan arrest a ‘positive development’

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

MANILA — Although long overdue, Malacanang on Tuesday said the arrest of retired army general Jovito Palparan Jr. is still a positive development.

“Ang pagkadakip ni dating Heneral Jovito Palparan ay magbibigay daan upang siya ay sumailalim sa mga proseso ng katarungan sa ilalim ng batas (The arrest of former General Palparan will give him a chance to face the court and undergo judicial process),” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Herminio “Sonny” Coloma in a press briefing in Malacanang.

“Patuloy na sinisikap ng ating mga alagad ng batas na tugisin at mahuli ang iba pang pinaghahanap ng batas — ‘yung mga high-profile suspects (Authorities are continuously going after those who are on wanted list, especially those high profile suspects),” he added.

Palparan was arrested by the NBI Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division in a rented house in Sta. Mesa around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.

He is facing kidnapping with serious illegal detention charges before the regional trial court in Malolos, Bulacan for the abduction and subsequent disappearance of Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, in a press conference at the NBI headquarters where the retired army general is temporarily detained, said Palparan would be arraigned on August 18, when he will also be presented to the court trying his case.

His two co-accused — Army Colonel Felipe Anotado and Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio — were earlier denied bail by the court. Another co-accused, Master Sergeant Rizal Hilario, is still at large.

“Matagal-tagal na rin naman siyang pinaghahanap at maramiraming mga usapin na naihain na naghahanap ng paliwanag at naghahangad din ng katarungan ang mga sangkot na pamilya at indibidwal. Kaya ito ay positibong development na sana’y humantong sa pagtatamo ng katarungan,” said Coloma.

“Matibay ang determinasyon ng ating Pangulo (Benigno Aquino III) na iharap sa hukuman at panagutin ang mga mayroong usapin sa paglabag ng mga karapatang pantao at sa paglabag ng batas. Isang mahalagang bahagi ng mabuting pamamahala ay ‘yung pag-iral ng rule of law at ng batas. Isa rin ‘yan sa pinakamahalagang aspeto ng plataporma ng Pangulo ‘nung siya ay kumandidato sa pagka-pangulo — ‘yung paggawad ng pantay-pantay na hustisya, paggawad ng katarungan sa ating bansa,” he noted.

Coloma said the Aquino administration has been pursuing for an effective criminal justice system in the country.

“Ang nais natin ay isang epektibong criminal justice system na kung saan mayroong certainty of outcome. Sabi nga ng ating Pangulo — na kung ang isang tao ay walang sala, tiyak na mapapawalang sala; at kung meron namang kasalanan, tiyak na magagawaran ng kaparusahan,” he said quoting President Aquino.