Court rejects Palparan's move to have arrest warrant recalled

THE Malolos, Bulacan regional trial court rejected Monday a retired Army general's move to recall the arrest warrant issued against him after he was accused of kidnapping and detaining two students.

The court turned down Retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan's motion and also claimed jurisdiction over the cases during its first hearing on Monday.

Palparan earlier said in his motion that the trial court has yet to acquire jurisdiction over him as he has not yet surrendered to authorities.

Judge Teodora Gonzales of the Malolos RTC Branch 14 also said that Palparan and co-accused Major Sergeant Rizal Hilario, who remains at large, are not entitled to seek relief from the court considering that they have not been arraigned.

Meanwhile, State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said the prosecution panel has also formally questioned the transfer to a military camp of Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Anotado and Senior Sergeant Edgardo Osorio, who were also charged in connection with the disappearance of the two University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno.

The prosecution panel is seeking the return of the accused to the Philippine National Police Custodial Center from the military camp.

Anotado and Osorio were taken to the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig from the Bulacan Provincial Jail on Friday for custody after Judge Teodora Gonzales granted their request.