Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad) party-list Rep. Pastor Alcover could face possible charges before the House ethics committee in connection with his statements supporting the continued hiding of fugitive former Rep. Jovito Palparan.
According to Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, the advice of Alcover to Palparan to elude arrest is unacceptable amid a pending warrant of arrest for the former member of Congress who is facing charges of serious illegal detention and physical injuries for the disappearance of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006.
Cadapan and Empeño were alleged to have been abducted by elements of the military under Palparan.
“Dapat lang (na kasuhan sa ethics committee). As a lawyer, Alcover should not give wrong advice,” Ilagan said, adding that she is planning to file charges against Alcover before the ethics committee.
Ilagan maintained that Alcover’s advice to Palparan was a form of “obstruction of justice” which is not appropriate for a member of Congress who is tasked to craft laws.
“That is already obstruction of justice. It is unethical and highly unprincipled. It is unbecoming of a member of  Congress,” Ilagan said.
Alcover had advised Palparan to continue on evading the law until such time that the government would be favorable to him.
According to Alcover, Palparan should ignore calls for him to surrender.
Palparan, who was also a former member of Congress representing Bantay party-list during the 14th Congress, is facing two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of  Cadapan and Empeño in 2006. Palparan was a commander of a military unit in Bulacan when the incident happened. Leftist groups have tagged him as the “butcher” for his alleged involvement in various killings and other human rights violations.
Cadapan and Empeño were abducted by armed men on June 26, 2006 in Hagonoy, Bulacan. According to former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, witnesses have identified their abductors as soldiers of the Army’s 56th Infantry Battalion in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
He said Cadapan and Empeno were detained and tortured at a camp in Limay, Bataan under the 24th IB. The 56th and 24th IBs were both under the 7th Infantry Division, then headed by Palparan.
From September 2005 until his retirement in September 2006, Palparan was the commanding general of the 7th Infantry Division in Central Luzon.
Lawmakers have been calling for police authorities to intensify their hunt for Palparan and three other high- profile fugitives of the law, including former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes and former Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. of Dinagat Island.
Militant groups claimed that Palparan is hiding at a military camp or in some safehouses owned by those who share his ideology. He retired in the Army with the rank of major general in 2009.
The Melo Commission in 2007 recommended Palparan’s investigation for extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations.
Alcover believes that the military and the police are sympathetic to Palparan who is a former military officer until his retirement in 2006.