KARAPATAN challenged the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to present documentary proof of convicted former Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan’s whereabouts instead of merely dismissing concerns as “fake news,” and to explain why official court notices indicated that he had been transferred out of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“While BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. has publicly stated that Palparan remains detained at the NBP, his assurances do not answer the fundamental questions raised by the complainants based on documentary evidence in their possession,” said KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay.
In the manifestation filed before the Supreme Court, Erlinda Cadapan and Concepcion Empeño, mothers of disappeared UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, included as annexes envelopes of court notices that were sent to Palparan but returned unserved and with the annotations “moved out (transferred to Bucor-Baguio)” and “moved out to PMA Baguio.”
“Their concerns arose from official court notices indicating that Palparan had been transferred to Baguio, where BuCor does not maintain any detention facility. If Palparan never left the New Bilibid Prison, then BuCor must explain why these official records indicate otherwise,” Palabay added.
Palabay also questioned Catapang’s own public statements regarding Palparan.
“Catapang himself disclosed that Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. sent medical personnel from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center to check on Palparan at the NBP. By his own admission, this was unprecedented. Why was such extraordinary attention given to a prisoner under BuCor custody? Rather than dispelling doubts, it only reinforces concerns that Palparan may be receiving special treatment,” she said.
KARAPATAN said the conflicting information regarding Palparan’s whereabouts only fuels legitimate concerns about possible special treatment being accorded to a convicted human rights violator serving a sentence of reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, who remain disappeared 20 years after their abduction.
“Equally disturbing is the fact that in one video during Catapang’s interview, Palparan appeared wearing a Minimum Security inmate shirt. Has his sentence changed? Has his security classification been downgraded? Palparan was convicted of kidnapping and serious illegal detention and sentenced to reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole. The public deserves an explanation as to why a prisoner convicted of such a heinous crime appears to be accorded treatment inconsistent with his status,” Palabay said.
Palabay likewise criticized Catapang’s attempt to justify special attention being given to convicted military and police officers.
“Catapang’s statement that inmates who once ‘served the country’ deserve medical services misses the point entirely. Every person deprived of liberty is entitled to adequate medical care as a matter of right and human dignity, not because they were soldiers, police officers, government officials, or because they once served the State. To invoke their past service as justification is deeply problematic, especially that this former soldier they were referring to was convicted by the courts because of rights violations when he was a military officer,” she said.
“The issue is not whether Palparan should receive medical treatment. Every prisoner should. The issue is whether Palparan is being accorded privileges, accommodations, or exceptions that are unavailable to ordinary persons deprived of liberty. Given the history of preferential treatment extended to Palparan, BuCor cannot expect the public to simply take its word for it.” Palabay added.
“Ultimately, the burden is on BuCor to dispel doubts created by contradictory information emanating from official channels. Empty assurances are not enough. The families of the victims and the public deserve facts, accountability, and justice which is repeatedly denied of them up to now.” Palabay stressed.
SEE ATTACHED: Envelopes of court notices from the Supreme Court that were sent to BuCor but were returned with the above-mentioned annotations. Photos from NUPL.
