A Bulacan regional trial court has ordered the immediate transfer of convicted retired Army Major Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. from custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the Malolos, Bulacan Regional Trial Court, Branch 15, junked the motion of Palparan seeking to defer his commitment in the national penitentiary pending resolution of his motion for reconsideration on his conviction in the abduction of two University of the Philippines Los Baños students who have remained missing for 12 years.
With the court ruling, Guevarra said that there is no more reason for Palparan to stay with AFP’s custody.
“I have personally discussed the matter with AFP chief of staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., who assured me that the AFP custodial center will immediately comply without prejudice to the resolution of any further judicial review,” the Justice secretary said, in a text message.
Galvez said the convicted retired general dubbed by human rights groups as “The Butcher” is expected to be transferred to NBP tomorrow (Thursday) morning.
Palparan and his two co-accused-Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio – were found guilty for kidnapping and serious illegal detention of missing UPLB students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, who were snatched in Barangay San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan in June 2006.
They were also ordered to indemnify the family of the missing with P100,000 in civil damages and P200,000 as moral damages in the verdict handed down by Judge Alexander Tamayo.
The three filed an appeal on the RTC’s decision, but government prosecutors said that Palparan and company should be immediately brought to the NBP pending resolution of their appeal.