Malacañang on Wednesday squelched speculation that President Rodrigo Duterte would pardon retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. as human rights groups accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines of coddling the former general who was convicted earlier this week for the abduction and disappearance of two University of the Philippines students. “There is no basis for that,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a radio interview regarding a possible presidential pardon for Palparan. The court decision is the order itself,” said Evangeline Hernandez, chair of Hustisya, an organization of victims and relatives of victims of human rights violations. Hustisya said Palparan was still being held at the Army custodial center in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, three days after his conviction. The group said the military was “making all kinds of excuses” in trying to keep Palparan in its custody.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 19, 2018 21:45 UTC