Former military general Jovito Palparan's wanted poster. FILE PHOTO
Security is expected to be tightened anew on Monday as the trial of the kidnapping with serious illegal detention case against retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan began to sizzle following the appearance in court of an alleged eyewitness who personally identified the controversial military officer as behind the abduction of UP students Karen Empeño at Shierlyn Cadapan.
Bulacan police director Senior Supt. Ferdinand Divina said the premises of Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) will be secured due to the intensity generated by the trial of Palparan and three other military officials.
Last Monday, fire trucks were used as barricade to prevent both militant groups and pro-Palparan supporters from getting near the Bulacan RTC. The court scheduled the next hearing on February 23.
“We want the safety of everyone and we want the case to push through without any untoward incident,” Divina said, adding that aside from the security detail of Palparan from his detention cell in Fort Bonificaio, the Bulacan police is also deploying anti-riot policemen and members of the Bulacan police-Special Weapons and Tacticts Unit.
Wearing Kevlar helmet and bullet-proof vest and surrounded by heavily armed security personnel, Palparan arrived last Monday at the sala of Bulacan RTC Branch 14 Judge Teodora Gonzales, together with his co-accused Lt.Col. Felipe Anotado and M/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio.
Torture witness
At Monday’s hearing, prosecution eyewitness Raymond Manalo testified that during his own detention, he saw Palparan three times.
He said he was lucky he escaped; he did not elaborate how he escaped.
Manalo claimed he saw the two missing UP students being tortured while tied naked.
Palparan’s lawyer Narzal Mallares shrugged off Manalo’s testimony, saying that everybody knew his client because he is popular.
He said that the accusers must prove their claims during cross examination.
Meanwhile, members of militant groups said they believe the two missing UP students are still alive.
As Palparan was being whisked away for his return journey to Fort Bonifacio after the hearing, some of the militant protesters shouted, “Executioner, release the students whom you abducted."
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/105409/police-to-tighten-security-for-palparan-trial
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