MANILA, Philippines – On the day one of the country’s most wanted fugitives was captured after 3 years of evading arrest, Malacañang gave its assurance that retired  Major General Jovito Palparan would not be given any special treatment while in detention.

In a news briefing on Tuesday, August 12, Malacañang also said there must be conviction if Palparan is guilty of the charges against him.

Palparan, infamously tagged as “The Butcher” by human rights activists, was arrested in Manila, Tuesday, August 12, almost 3 years after an arrest warrant was issued against him.

In a news briefing hours after the arrest, Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said that Palparan would not be given any special treatment, and that the government would “comply with the law without prejudice, without giving special regard.”

“This is what will happen regarding General Palparan and all others under government custody,” Coloma said.

Palparan himself had said that he would not seek special treatment; only security from his “enemies” and an impartial trial. 

‘There must be conviction’

Malacañang praised the work of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), but said it is important for Palparan to be held accountable for the charges against him, if warranted.

Asked if it is important for Palparan to be held accountable for his actions through a conviction, Coloma said: “Oo, kasi nga ang nais natin ay isang epektibong criminal justice system na kung saan mayroong certainty of outcome – sabi nga ng ating Pangulo – na kung ang isang tao ay walang sala, tiyak na mapapawalang sala; at kung meron namang kasalanan, tiyak na magagawaran ng kaparusahan.“

(Yes, [there should be a conviction] because what we want is an effective criminal justice system where there is a certainty of outcome. As the President says, if a person is innocent, then he will certainly be acquitted. If a person is guilty, then he will certainly be punished.)

He stressed the unwavering determination of President Benigno Aquino III to bring to justice those who have violated the law and committed human rights abuses.

“One important part of good governance is upholding the rule of law. That was one of the most important aspects of the platform of the President when he ran for office – equal justice for all,” he said.

The Palace assurance comes a day after the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released survey results showing a steep decline in the satisfaction ratings of the Aquino administration. 

The SWS survey results conducted in June also showed negative net satisfaction ratings for the Aquino administration’s handling of 4 issues, including  the Maguindanao massacre case with justice which got a -44 rating.

Continued pursuit of high-profile cases

At the same press conference, Coloma cited the Maguindanao massacre as “the height of the so-called culture of impunity” in the country, and said the “response of the government to that issue is not just the capture of the suspect or a court trial” but to institute systemic changes in governance so that such crimes would not happen again.

Despite the arrest however, Coloma acknowledged much remains to be done, aside from the continued pursuit of other high-profile fugitives. (READ: No fair trial for Palparan under De Lima, says ally)

“As a whole, the ultimate goal of the government is to strengthen the criminal justice system, [and] to improve the capabilities of the police force and other law enforcement agencies in order to prevent crimes from happening,” he said.

“It’s the whole system that we’re looking at, not just the capture of so-called high-profile suspects.”

The Aquino government had placed a P2-million bounty for the capture of the retired general. He went into hiding when a Bulacan regional trial court issued a warrant for his arrest in December 2011, in connection with the 2006 abduction of students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno. – Rappler.com