Malacanang’s confirmation that notorious retired general Jovito Palparan is being considered for an appointive position in government continues to draw flak from cause-oriented groups and human rights advocate.Over the weekend, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita confirmed that Palparan is being considered for a stint in the Dangerous Drug Board or the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Another retired general, PDEA chief Dionisio Santiago, already gave Palparan an overview of the agency’s work. Santiago said Palparan was welcome at the PDEA.
“Malacanang’s pronouncements, even in the face of widespread criticism, show an utter disregard for human rights, and shows that human rights violators are rewarded instead of punished,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
“The question is not whether he’s qualified or not for a job in PDEA. The problem is that Palparan has yet to be made accountable for the many crimes he committed while he was active in the military. No less than the government’s Melo Commission has found Palparan liable for human rights abuses, including killings and abductions, in Central Luzon. Even the Court of Appeals has linked Palparan in the abduction and torture of two UP students and the Manalo brothers,” Reyes said.
Bayan lamented that despite the overwhelming legal opinion that Palparan is directly involved in the killings and abductions of activists, Malacanang has not lifted a finger to prosecute the retired general. Just last year, the Supreme Court, in a precedent setting move, upheld all the findings of the Court of Appeals which implicated Palparan in the abduction and torture of the Manalo brothers and the two missing UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan.
“The proposed appointment shows that Palparan still enjoys the support of the Arroyo regime. It shows that Malacanang has no intention of prosecuting Palparan and will even go out of its way to protect Palparan. We all remember how Arroyo heaped praises on Palparan during her State of the Nation Address in 2006,” Reyes said.
“This government has no conscience at all, as it continues to insult human rights victims by promoting and coddling notorious human rights violators. The international community will surely get wind of this latest move of the Arroyo administration. We hope that pressure will be made to bear on the Arroyo regime,” Reyes said.
Militarization of bureacracy
The proposed PDEA appointment comes in the wake of a cabinet reshuffle which placed former generals in prime positions in the Arroyo administration. This has raised alarms from various sectors that Arroyo is undermining the civilian character of government.
"Just look at how Dionisio welcomed Palparan. Even retired military officials seem to look after their own. A former military man like Dionisio seems to find nothing wrong with Palparan's human rights record. That is an indication of the militarist mindset that is now prevalent in the Arroyo regime," Reyes said.
