MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 2, 2012) – One of the Philippines’ most wanted fugitive, retired army commander Jovito Palparan, has asked the asked the Court of Appeals to stop the Bulacan Regional Trial Court from proceeding with his trial in connection with his alleged involvement in the disappearance of two University of the Philippines students in 2006, state media said.
It said Palparan, a former army major general, and his co-accused retired army sergeant Rizal Hilario, asked the CA through their legal counsels, to issue a temporary restraining order against the Bulacan RTC.
They questioned the April 2012 arrest order by Judge Teodora Gonzales. The court also issued a hold departure order against the two in connection to the charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of political activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno.
Palparan and Hilario insisted the order should be nullified and for the CA to ask the Department of Justice to conduct another preliminary investigation. They said the DOJ did not investigate the allegations.
The families of the missing students also accused Palparan of raping the two women, aside from serious physical injuries, arbitrary detention, and grave threats based on the testimony of a witness.
The government has put up a P2 million rewards for the capture of Palparan. Others who were implicated in the case – Sergeant Edgardo Osorio and Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado – have surrendered already surrendered. (Perfecto Raymundo)
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