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Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Palparan retires, denies involvement in slays
CONTROVERSIAL Major General Jovito Palparan maintained his innocence over charges that he masterminded the killing of over 100 leftist militants as he officially bowed out of the service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Monday.
Palparan relinquished the command of the 7th Infantry Division (ID) to Major General Juanito Gomez in rites held at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio. Gomez previous post, commander of the National Capital Region Command (NCRcom), will go to Brigadier General Ben Dolorfino.
He broke into tears as he was delivering his farewell speech while narrating how he lost 200 of his 500 men in fierce fighting against the secessionist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the late 1970s in the Sulu province.
Palparan, who was wounded in the campaign, was conferred with the Gold Cross Medal that he said etched deep in his heart the tragic loss of his men, including the entire delta company of the 24th Infantry Battalion (IB).
Palparan, the then battalion commander, said while he proudly accepts the third highest combat medal in the military, "deep in my hearts of hearts, it is still an imprint of failure, just garnished with bravery. Lives were lost and I was the leader."
"I hurt inside when my men make the supreme sacrifice for flag and country. That is why it hurts when I am accused of wanton disregard for life, more so by those who do not even respect the law nor abide by the rules of engagement," the official said.
Palparan also downplayed the threat of the New People's Army (NPA), who had marked him as "dead man walking." Top NPA leaders have vowed to execute Palparan for the extrajudicial killings of leftist militants which the officer had branded as mere propaganda by the Left.
"From the first day of his retirement, you will see him for 50 more years when those who are going after him and who are threatening him are already wiped out.
What I want to say is that let us not be afraid to these kind of people who are threatening me," he said.
He appealed to the public and to the local officials not to be cowed by the NPA. "Let us not be afraid of the NPA. If we show our fears, we are already defeated because the NPA take advantage of our weakness," he said.
Palparan said the military fights the armed group of the communist movement "but the critical factor is the commitment of local officials and communities. You have to make a stand. You have to fight back. There can be no fence-sitters when democracy is at stake."
He later scored at progressive groups, specifically mentioning the party list Bayan Muna, which he said has been supporting the NPA, which he said, is aiming to usurp the government and the democratic institutions.
"We respect and uphold the democratic rights of political organizations, even that of the Left like Bayan Muna. But one cannot enjoy the freedoms and the power and honor of public office but at the same time harbor tacit support for, and enjoy the protection of an armed group that seeks to overthrow the government and our democratic system," said Palparan.
"That's unfair. If you want to take part in this democratic government, you should be denouncing the NPA. You, as elected officials and us soldiers, made an oath under one Constitution," the official said.
Palparan said the elected officials and the officers and men of the Armed Forces have the responsibility to fight the armed struggle of the NPA and its political wing, the Communist Party of the Philippines.
"It is your solemn duty, as it is ours in the Armed Forces, to actively oppose the CPP/NPA and its violent means to achieve political change. And so, I now challenge you and your local chapters to publicly denounce the CPP/NPA, its program of extortion and its armed struggle, he said.
Palparan was conferred by Army Chief Romeo Tolentino with a command plaque and a Distinguished Service Star for his meritorious stint as 7th ID commander, which saw the implementation of unpopular measures like the "cedula campaign".
Moments before the turnover rites, about 3,000 supporters of Palparan, mostly from Central Luzon, arrived in Fort Bonifacio to show their support for the retiring official. His supporters include rebel returnees and leaders of mass organizations.
"It's a show of support," said Palparan to his supporters as he arrived at the grandstand for the turnover rites.
Palparan's supporters, carrying placards calling for the toppling of leftist groups like Bayan Muna, Bayan, Anakpawis, Anakbayan, Gabriela, among others, stayed at the left portion of the grandstand.
As he took the podium for his speech, Palparan asked his supporters to stay in front of the grandstand, joining the parading troops. At the middle of his speech, the Palparan supporters echoed Palparan's chant "Ibagsak ang NPA (Down with the NPA)."
Monday's affair deviated from traditional turnover ceremonies. Apart from the presence of Palparan's "rallyists" at the grandstand, the officer had in his town two dogs which he called as his "adopted children."
At least 2,000 assorted firearms, including machineguns, communication gadgets and rebel documents seized from the NPA during Palparan's one-year stint as 7th ID commander were displayed in front of the grandstand.
Security was tight around the camp for the ceremony, including the setting-up of checkpoints about 200 meters from the Army headquarters. Bomb experts checked at the entrance of the grandstand the belongings of people attending the rites.
In his speech, Tolentino asked Palparan's successor to continue with the thrust started by Palparan. "We will benefit much if we follow the footsteps of our honoree (Palparan) today (Monday), continue the Army's thrust in Central Luzon," he said.
Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor earlier said Palparan would be the incoming deputy National Security Adviser for counter-insurgency. But Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said nothing is definite yet on the appointment of Palparan.
Just on Monday, though, Defensor said Palparan might be appointed to a post at the Department of National Defense (DND) instead. The announcement of a NSC post for Palparan met a storm of protests from various sectors.
Defensor, in a couple of radio interviews, said Palparan would go on a month-long rest after his retirement as he awaits a formal appointment in government.
He said Palparan had already talked to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita about taking the vacation.
Defensor said Palparan has also expressed his openness to a post within the DND following reports that Security Adviser Gonzales prefers to work with former Southern Command head Pedro Cabuay whom he described as a "silent worker that delivers."
Commenting on his supposed appointment, Palparan said: "If they (Malacañang) are going to give me a job, I'd work immediately. If I will be assigned there (as deputy National Security Adviser), I believe I can do a lot."
Palparan said he had been informally informed of his appointment by Defensor. Asked to elaborate how he was informed, Palparan said: "You know it already, it's already in the papers."
To those who are criticizing his supposed appointment, Palparan said: "That is what they want to happen? They are against those who are doing their job, if possible they want them out of the scene." (VR/Sunnex)
(September 12, 2006 issue)
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