The Philippine government has launched a manhunt for the retired major general tagged by activist groups as “Berdugo (Butcher)” for the string of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances attributed to him. He was stopped recently by immigration officials at an airport in Pampanga province from leaving the country. He was bound for Singapore.
A task force has been formed solely to find, arrest and detain Major General Jovito Palparan since his foiled attempt to leave for Singapore.
The task force was organised by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. It is made up of members of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
Once caught, Palparan will go straight to jail because charges laid against him are non-bailable.