MANILA - Retired Army Major Gen. Jovito Palparan must be transferred to the New Bilibid Prison following his conviction for the kidnapping and illegal detention of University of the Philippines (UP) students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, a Palace spokesman said Monday.

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Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, a lawyer, told ABS-CBN News that Palparan must be transferred to Bilibid and can still attend hearings for a separate kidnapping case from there.

“Dapat malipat. Dadalhin na lang siya kung may hearing,” Roque said.

In a radio interview, Roque said he will call Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr. and Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald Dela Rosa to discuss the possible transfer of Palparan to the national penitentiary.

Palparan was ordered transferred by the Malolos Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 to the national penitentiary after he was found guilty in the Cadapan and Empeño case.

The military, however, has chosen to keep him detained inside the military's general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City while waiting for clarification from the courts.

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Philippine Army Spokesman Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva noted that Malolos RTC Branch 19 ruled that the former commander of the Philippine Army's 7th Infantry Division should be in the safekeeping of the military as he is still facing a separate illegal detention case, involving the kidnapping of Manalo brothers Raymond and Reynaldo.