MALOLOS CITY—A Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge here ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to produce before her sala arrested fugitive retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan.
This came as the NBI failed to present Palparan to the court yesterday, or more than a day after his arrest in Sta.Mesa Manila. Instead, NBI Special Investigator Rodelio Velez presented the return warrant of arrest to Judge Teodora Gonzales of RTC Branch 14 here.
Sources said that the judge was irked by the failure of the NBI, noting that Judge Gonzales usually demanded that persons be presented to her but gave the order despite the absence of the retired general who is considered to be in high risk situation.
In a one-page order released yesterday, Gonzales ordered NBI Chief of Security Management Division to present Palparan to her sala and commit him to the Bulacan provincial Jail.
She also directed Provincial Jail Warden retired Col. Pepito Plamenco to provide a space for the retired general.
Gonzales also said in her order that Palparan will be arraigned in her court on Monday, August 18. Thus, the order for immediate commitment of the retired general to the provincial jail, and another order to that person who will have custody of Palparan on Monday to present him in court.
Gonzales’ orders gave no timeline for its accomplishment, aside from the word “immediately.” As this developed, Plamenco said that they already prepared a small room for Palparan at the Bulacan Provincial Jail.
The said room which Palparan is expected to share with an older inmate has a small comfort room.
Blunders
Meanwhile, NBI agents who presented the return warrant of arrest to RTC branch 14 here drew flak yesterday for their unbecoming behavior and series of blunders. First, the agents failed to coordinate with the NBI-Bulacan Division Office, which led Judge Gonzales to call a representative from said office to validate if the persons who came to her office were indeed NBI agents from Manila.
Second, the NBI agents from Manila tried to leave the judge’s office immediately after presenting their documents and have it signed. RTC employees have to literally call them from the RTC stairs and go back to the office because the NBI agents did not leave a received copy of their documents.
Third, the NBI agents immediately returned to Manila and left behind a process server of RTC Branch 14 sent by Gonzales to have the order officially received in NBI offi ce in Manila.