The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas is reportedly waiting for a formal directive from its central office to track down and arrest former Army Major General Jovito Palparan.
Pallparan who grew up in Malitbog, Southern Leyte, went into hiding after a Regional Trial Court issued a warrant for his arrest for his alleged participation in the abduction and disappearance of two college students in 2006. He also served as the commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City.
Police Senior Superintendent Elizar Egloso, PNP spokesman for Eastern Visayas said they have yet to receive a copy of the directive from their national headquarter directing them to confirm if Palparan was indeed hiding in the region. He said that once they received the directive they would act on it immediately.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Isiais Tonog, chief of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) of PNP-Eastern Visayas also echoed Egloso’s statement although he admitted that a manhunt for the controversial anti-in surgency general was on-going. He added that they did not rule out the high possibility that the former military chief is hiding in his hometown of Malitbog.
Before the charges against him were filed in court, General Palparan was a well known and highly decorated officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.