BuCor asked to submit report on Palparan media interview
THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has been required by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to submit a supplemental report regarding the controversial media interview of retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. – convicted for the kidnapping of two University of the Philippines (UP) students in 2006.
This was after Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco found as insufficient the written explanation filed by BuCor’s top brass in determining compliance to requirements for request to interview inmates.
“The BUCOR submitted a report last week, but according to Usec. Deo Marco, he found the report insufficient to determine full compliance with the procedural requirements before acting on a request for interview of a PDL. So he asked the BUCOR to submit a supplemental report, ” Guevarra said.
Palparan’s interview recently hogged headlines. He was sentenced to up to 40 years in prison for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of college students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño.
The former military officer was transferred from military custody to the NBP in Muntinlupa two weeks after his conviction in 2018.
The National Union of People’s Lawyers asked BuCor to transfer Palparan from the New Bilibid Prison’s minimum security compound to the maximum security facility.
In a three-page letter addressed to BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag, NUPL stressed that Palparan should be transferred to the maximum security compound having been convicted for a crime punishable by reclusion perpetua (20 to 40 years imprisonment).
Also, the NUPL demanded that future requests for media interviews by Palparan should be denied just to allay public suspicion that the erstwhile officer was being accorded preferential treatment while behind bars.
Aside from the immediate termination of any special privileges and treatment to Palparan, the progressive lawyer’s group likewise sought disciplinary sanctions against officers and personnel of BuCor responsible for violating rules when they allowed Palparan be interviewed by Badoy.
