A manhunt operation has been launched by Police Regional Office-6 against Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr, after he was reportedly sighted in San Carlos Negros Occidental.

Palparan is subject of an arrest warrant in relation to the alleged disappearance of University of the Philippines student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006.

This was disclosed yesterday by PRO-6 Deputy Director for Operations Senior Supt. Manuel Felix, who said intelligence operatives have already been sent into the area where the wanted general was allegedly sighted.

Fred Caña, spokesperson of the Karapatan human rights group, claimed Wednesday that Palparan was sighted in the property owned by a politician.

Aside from Palparan, Judge Teodora Gonzales of Malolos City Regional Trial Court Branch 14 also issued the warrants of arrest on Dec. 19 against military officers Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado Jr., Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio, and Master Sgt. Rizal Hilario.

Felix said latest intelligence reports show that Palparan is no longer here in Negros Occidental, but stressed they will continue to search for him to serve his arrest warrant.

Felix also said PRO-6 has ordered verification of reports that a former jail guard, who is allegedly connected to a terror group, is in Bacolod City to recruit civilians.

Intelligence reports show that the former jail guard, whose name the police withheld, and who is from the Southern Philippines, has been in the city for several weeks and has already established a mass base to start the recruitment.

Felix said PRO-6 has already ordered station commanders in Bacolod City and in neighboring towns to verify the report. *APN

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