Immediately arrest Palparan et. al. - KATRIBU

The arrest order for Gen. Jovito Palparan is a long delayed action of government. He should be arrested and detained with dispatch. The PNP manhunt should continue despite his surrender feelers and the surrender of his cohorts. The government should not also give him any special treatment and privilege.

Like his former boss – Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo – they should spend Christmas in jail and serve the full extent of the penalty attached to the grave crimes they have committed. His arrest, detention and speedily brought to justice is a small gift that PNoy can give to his victims this Yuletide.

PNoy should not stop there but to do the same for ALL other State security agents perpetrating violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Aside from the arrest and detention and immediate prosecution of Palparan et. al.

In his assignment in the Cordilleras sometime 2004, Palparan was responsible for the torture and killings of indigenous peoples. He tortured Marcelo Fakilang (now deceased) in his own ator – of Betwagan, Sadanga, Mtn. Province – undermining indigenous socio-political systems and disregarding the respect for a tribal leader; and the enforced disappearance of Aboli of Dallik, Bontoc, Mtn. Province. He also commanded the paramilitary CAFGU that was responsible for many atrocities against indigenous peoples in the region.

The prosecution of current State security agents shall send a clear message that the arrest and detention of an infamous dreaded military officer in the person of Palparan is NOT just for show. Such would prevent a creation of another berdugo – another butcher – who shall rise among the ranks and perpetrate gross human rights violations with impunity.

If sincere to his words of promotion of human rights, PNoy should scrap Oplan Bayanihan. It is no different from Oplan Bantay Laya and other counter-insurgency policy of previous governments. It is a policy for human rights and international humanitarian law violations.
Human rights violators such as the hundred soldiers deployed in the Cordillera and other indigenous communities should not be rewarded with medals and promotions. They should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. They should be the ones in jail not the hundred of human rights defenders currently detained all over the country on trumped-up charges.

Reference : Beverly Longid
President, KATRIBU Partylist