Bulacan RTC judge orders NBI to immediately present Palparan in court

Jovito Palparan undergoes routine medical check-up after arrest. Photo: Tricia Terada / Twitter

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — The Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge handling the case of captured Retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan on Wednesday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to present to the court the controversial military officer and be detained at the Bulacan Provincial Jail so he could be formally arraigned.

Bulacan RTC Branch 14 Judge Teodora Gonzales issued a commitment order on Wednesday morning instructing the country’s premiere investigation body to present “immediately” the retired army general who earned the moniker “Berdugo” (Butcher) for his relentless campaign against insurgency and alleged involvement in numerous cases of political killings.

Palparan was arrested by NBI agents in an old house in Sta, Mesa Manila early Tuesday morning.

Two other persons were also taken into custody and undergoing investigation for alleged coddling of a fugitive from justice.

A team of NBI agents went to the Bulacan RTC on Wednesday morning and returned the warrant of arrest without bringing Palparan with them because of alleged “risk” in the life of the controversial retired army general.

A visibly irked Judge Gonzales questioned the NBI agents and even has to contact the NBI-Bulacan office to confirm if they were indeed NBI agents.

The judge issued the commitment order and told the agents to present Palparan immediately to the court.

The judge also set the arraignment of Palparan on August 18 and ordered his detention to the Bulacan Provincial Jail.

Palparan is facing charges of kidnapping with serious illegal detention on the alleged abduction of University of the Philippines (UP) students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan.

Meanwhile, provincial jail Warden Pepito Plamenco said that the BPJ is ready to accommodate high profile detainees like Palparan.

He said Palparan will be locked up in separate cell with a bed and toilet and assured that he will be safe while in the custody of the Bulacan Provincial Jail.

Plamenco also said he has also coordinated with Bulacan acting police director Senior Supt. Ferdinand Divina to send additional policemen to help in securing the controversial general while his case is being heard at the Bulacan RTC.

Palparan has earlier stated that he feels safer in the custody of the NBI but will obey and respect the order of the court.