ISAFP willing to detain Palparan if ordered by courts

Retired Major General Jovito Palparan is wanted for the alleged kidnapping and illegal detention of two student-activists from the University of the Philippines. (Screengrab from Rappler footage)

MANILA — Should the courts find it necessary to order the transfer of retired Major Gen. Jovito Palparan to military custody due to security threats, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) head Major Gen. Eduardo Año expressed willingness to accommodate the former who now facing charges due to the alleged abduction and disappearance of two UP students in 2006.

“(If ISAFP) will be given tasking, ISAFP is very much willing to accommodate General Palparan,” he said.

Año said that there are threats against the retired military officer at the Bulacan Provincial Jail as five New People’s Army (NPA) members are also detained there and facing charges.

He added that it would be uneasy for both parties to be detained at the same facility.

“In fact Geneal Palparan after making the assessment on the threat of his life, recommended (that) he should be detained either in the PNP Custodial Center (in Camp Crame, Quezon City) or in the AFP Custodial Center or if they will task ISAFP we can provide (to) accommodate for him and that should be of course with the permission of the court,” the ISAFP chief said.

He said the threat against Palparan is very real.

Palparan was arrested last Aug.

12 in Sta. Mesa, Manila after a three-year flight from authorities.

The former went into hiding after the Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 14 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 remains at large.

Palparan’s last assignment at the Army was commander of the Nueva Ecija-based 7th Infantry Division. He retired from the service in Sept. 11, 2006.