The reward hopefully will prompt former Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan to surrender, Director General Nicanor Bartolome said.
He said authorities have received “surrender feelers” from the northern, central and southern Philippines, indicating that Palparan is still in the country. Palparan tried to leave for Singapore a day before the regional trial court in northern Bulacan province ordered his arrest.
Palparan has denied involvement in the disappearance of Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan on June 26, 2006. The two remain missing.
“The surrender feeler is one thing. The actual surrender is another, that is why we have initiated the release of the reward money,” Bartolome said. “This will hasten either his surrender or information from individuals interested in the reward money. Hopefully, hopefully, he will surrender very soon.”
Palparan, who became a congressman after retiring in 2006, is one of the highest-ranking army officers to face arrest for alleged human rights violations. He lost in last year’s senatorial elections.
Rep. Teddy Casiño, of the left-wing party Bayan Muna whose members were among those targeted by alleged anti-communist hit squads, said “it would be good for them increase the reward.”
“We hope that it encourages people to report Palparan,” he said.
Raymond Manalo, one of several witnesses, has testified in court that he met Empeno and Cadapan while the three were in the custody of army officers under Palparan in 2006. He said military authorities suspected they were communist guerrillas or sympathizers. Manalo said he later escaped from military detention.
A fact-finding commission that investigated extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations particularly targeting left-wing activists has named Palparan as one of the military commander who could be held responsible. Palparan has called the allegations communist propaganda.
