Erlinda Cadapan and Concepcion Empeño, mothers of abducted University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, conducted a personal verification of retired Major General Jovito Palparan’s detention at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) last June 25, 2026. The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) had no choice but to allow the request of the private complainants after much public outcry following reports and official court records pointing to Palparan’s transfer in Baguio City despite his 2018 conviction for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of Sherlyn and Karen.
The question originally posed remains: Where was Palparan when the notices from the Supreme Court were refused by NBP personnel on his behalf in February and March 2026 for the reasons that Palparan “moved out: transferred to BuCor-Baguio” and “moved out to PMA Baguio” respectively?
The answer is clear: he was in Baguio City during that time. This is reflected in the above-mentioned handwritten notes in the returned mails, and confirmed by the tracking information of the Philpost. This was further supported by the PMA’s statement of non-denial and BuCor’s general statement that Palparan is still in their custody, without providing proof that he is still detained at the NBP.
Pushed to the wall by pressure from families of the victims and human rights groups, BuCor scrambled to bring Palparan back to the NBP. They did so just in time for the private complainants to see him in person inside the NBP. Contrary to the public statement of the NBP that the request of private complainants was only made on the same day of their visit, the request for verification was, in truth, sent to the BuCor as early as June 18, 2026.
To complete the performance, Palparan was shown to the private complainants in an orange shirt required for inmates at the maximum security compound, instead of the brown shirt worn by inmates at the minimum security compound which Palparan was seen wearing in the photo BuCor initially released in its vain effort to show that he was still at the NBP. Notably, NBP Superintendent Gary Garcia already publicly admitted that Palparan was previously held at the Minimum Security Compound purportedly due to unsubstantianted “security concerns.”
Despite this well-rehearsed, well-choreographed performance, the fact remains that the NBP returned the letters addressed to Palparan because he was not at the NBP when they were delivered. In its knee-jerk reaction to the issue, the BuCor unintentionally exposed to the public that Palparan is enjoying special privileges not accorded to other inmates. Aside from being allowed to stay inside the Minimum Security Compound, Palparan is also provided with regular medical care by the V. Luna Medical Center, a privilege that ordinary inmates can only dream of, while they have to wait for weeks, and even months, before requests for medical check-ups and laboratory tests are approved.
It is not enough that the BuCor presented Palparan to the private complainants on June 25, 2026. BuCor should explain why Palparan was previously allowed to be brought to PMA Baguio and why he is being accorded special privileges not given to other inmates.###
Reference:
Atty. Julian Oliva, Jr.
NUPL Counsel
09175465799
