Police urge Palparan to surrender

Saturday, February 4, 2012

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome urged Thursday retired Major General Jovito Palparan to surrender so he can defend himself properly in court.

Palparan is facing a case for kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the abduction of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, who are still missing as of press time.

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Bartolome said the government is increasing the reward money, from P500,000 to P1 million, for any information that would lead to the arrest of Palparan.

With the increased reward, Bartolome said it could be a big help for authorities tasked to find and arrest Palparan.

It was reported that Palparan has sought refuge from his former comrades in the military.

But Bartolome denied this information.

“Hindi naman siguro. Kung dati may makakita sa kanya, ngayon wala na dahil marami nang interesado sa reward. Malaking pera na rin ang P1 million,” he said during his visit in Cagayan de Oro.

Bartolome said even as Palparan is apparently hard to catch owing to his experience in the military as intelligence officer; the police have formulated their “schemes” to find him.

Meanwhile, the PNP in Northern Mindanao felt happy over the surrender of one of the suspects in the slay attempt of broadcaster Michael James Licuanan of Bombo Radyo.

Baldomero N. Pajo, 29, a resident of Barangay Natubo in Jasaan Misamis Oriental, voluntarily surrendered to Jasaan police on Monday reportedly “to clear his name.”

“It only means that the case will come into a final solution and will also lead to the arrest of the other suspects,” said PNP-Northern Mindanao director Police Chief Superintendent Jufel C. Adriatico.

Adriatico said they are continuing their search for the remaining suspects. (With Michael Andrew W. Yu)