Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez today said that “it is not weak but a misdirected intelligence work that the AFP-PNP is doing.” Hilao-Enriquez’ statement is in response to the Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s amazed observation on why the government has not yet found the high profile fugitives especially Gen. Jovito Palparan, Jr.
Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez today said that “it is not weak but a misdirected intelligence work that the AFP-PNP is doing.” Hilao-Enriquez’ statement is in response to the Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s amazed observation on why the government has not yet found the high profile fugitives especially Gen. Jovito Palparan, Jr.
According to Hilao-Enriquez, the “intelligence work of the AFP and PNP is largely directed against activists, leaders and members of people’s organizations. They are busy with their surveillance work during rallies, in schools, factories, urban and rural communities and in tracking down persons whom they list down in their Order of Battle as ‘enemies of the state’ as part of Oplan Bayanihan, P-Noy’s version of counterinsurgency program.
The Malolos Regional Trial Court issued an Omnibus Order dated April 3, 2012 denying Gen. Jovito Palparan’s Omnibus Motion for preliminary investigation, to quash/recall the warrant of arrest, hold departure order, and to suspend proceedings. The court however could only arraign Palparan’s two co-accused, Lt.Col. Felipe Anotado, Jr. and S/Sgt. Edgardo L. Osorio since Palparan remains a fugitive to this day.
Hilao-Enriquez reiterated Karapatan’s call for the government “to use all its resources to bring out Gen. Jovito Palparan so that his case will be finally arraigned at the Malolos Regional Trial Court. With the P-Noy government’s foot dragging, it would seem that it is unwilling to give up Gen. Palparan because P-Noy is protective of the military institution that Palparan essentially represents.” ###