'Bato' assures no VIP treatment for Palparan in Bilibid

MANILA- There will be no special treatment at the national penitentiary for retired Army Major Gen. Jovito Palparan, Bureau of Corrections Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa assured Thursday.

Palparan was transferred to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City Wednesday night after he was convicted for the kidnapping and illegal detention of two University of the Philippines students in 2006.

• Palparan transferred to Bilibid

“Walang VIP treatment. Normal lang siya doon. Kung kailangan matulog siya sa karton, sa karton siya matulog. Kahit general siya, convict na siya,” Dela Rosa said.

(There is no VIP treatment. He's treated normally there. If he has to sleep on a carboard, he will sleep on one. Even if he is a general before, he is now a convict.)

Dela Rosa on Thursday morning checked on Palparan at the diagnostic center of the national penitentiary.

There, Palparan told reporters that his first night at the Bilibid was so far, so good. He said he shared quarters with 37 other inmates who were transferred to the facility this week.

Asked whether he received special treatment, Palparan said: "Wala, pare-pareho kami dito."

(No, we're all the same here.)

During his transfer, authorities confiscated cigarettes from Palparan, Dela Rosa said.

Palparan will stay at the Reception and Diagnostic Center of the national penitentiary for 60 days.

In his first five days there, Palparan will be quarantined to undergo counseling and medical examination to determine his state of physical and mental health.

The remaining 55 days will be for assessment purposes.

After 2 months, Palparan will be transferred to the maximum security compound where he will be joining other convicts facing various cases with an imprisonment sentence of 20 years and up.

Dela Rosa also assured the safety of the retired major general inside the national penitentiary after the latter expressed concerns over his safety with regards to convicted communists.

“Isa yan sa babantayan natin. Kung may mahalo man, dapat walang gagawing masama sa kanya, pareho lang silang nakulong dito. Kung sasaktan nila si General Palparan, sasaktan din namin sila,” Dela Rosa said.

(We will watch out for that. If some communists will be mixed, they shouldn't harm Palparam because they are both inmates. If they will hurt Gen. Palparan, we will hurt them too.)

Tagged as "the Butcher" by activists, Palparan was accused of being behind killings and various human rights abuses during the administration of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo.