Palparan’s capture shows government’s determination to reform justice system, says official August 13, 2014

From the Website of the President links: http://president.gov.ph/news/palparans-capture-shows-governments-determination-reform-justice-system-says-official/ News Palparan’s capture shows government’s determination to reform justice system, says official August 13, 2014   The arrest of retired general Jovito Palparan on Tuesday shows the administration’s determination to reform the justice system to ensure equal protection for everyone, a Palace official has said. “Matibay ang determinasyon ng ating Pangulo na iharap sa hukuman at panagutin ang mga mayroong usapin sa paglabag ng mga karapatang pantao at sa paglabag ng batas,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday. Secretary Coloma was responding to questions if Palparan’s arrest was a warning to perpetrators of extrajudicial killings. He said the administration believes that good governance should also mean ensuring rule of law in the country. “Isa rin ‘yan sa pinakamahalagang aspeto ng plataporma ng Pangulo ‘nung siya ay kumandidato sa pagka-pangulo—‘yung paggawad ng pantay-pantay na hustisya, paggawad ng katarungan sa ating bansa,” he said. While the capture of Palparan is a small victory in the country’s justice system, Coloma said, the Aquino government is working hard to have an effective criminal justice system in the long term. Ensuring the conviction of those who have violated the law is a prime consideration of the government, he said, adding that the commitment of the government to ensure the rule of law is a major step to breaking the culture of impunity in the country. The height of the so-called culture of impunity was in 2009 when a clan of warlords allegedly carried out the Maguindanao massacre, he said. He noted that this is the reason why the President is pushing for reforms in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Coloma also made an assurance on Tuesday that the government will continue to go after high-profile suspects who remain at large. Among these high-profile fugitives are the Reyes brothers from Palawan and charismatic leader Ruben Ecleo. Authorities are offering rewards for their capture.  Palparan has been implicated in the 2006 kidnapping and serious illegal detention of two female students of the University of the Philippines. He went into hiding shortly after a warrant for his arrest was issued in December 2011. Office of the President Website http://president.gov.ph/ Article links:   http://president.gov.ph/news/palparans-capture-shows-governments-determination-reform-justice-system-says-official/ OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS WEBSITES Human Rights Advocacy Promotions | Human Rights Home - Human rights Promotions Website http://www.humanrightspromotions.co.nr PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------