MANILA – Malacañang has allayed fears that President Rodrigo Duterte would pardon Jovito Palparan Jr.
There was no reason for the President to pardon the retired Philippine Army major general who was convicted for the abduction of two students from the University of the Philippines, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.
Palparan and two others were found guilty of kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges in connection with the disappearance of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño.
Their mothers have expressed fear that Palparan would get away from serving his sentence, with former boss Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo back in power as House speaker and Duterte being sympathetic with the military.
Palparan was leading the Arroyo administration’s counterinsurgency campaign at the time the UP students, branded as rebels, went missing.
“Wala pong basehan iyan (There is no basis for that fear),” Roque told a dzRH radio interview Wednesday.
“Ang nagpakulong po kay Palparan ay gobyerno at ang gobyerno rin ang magsisiguro na mabigyan ng katarungan iyong mga biktima (The government incarcerated Palparan and will make sure the disappeared will get justice),” he added.
A presidential pardon exempts an individual from punishment for the crime they were convicted for but does not erase the conviction.
Empeño and Sherlyn were allegedly abducted and tortured by Palparan’s men at the height of the Arroyo administration’s counterinsurgency drive “Oplan Bantay Laya” in 2006.
Palparan and two others found guilty – Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Anotado and Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio – were sentenced to life imprisonment./PN
