HUMAN
RIGHTS WATCH
General
Rapped by Rights Body for Mindoro Killings
A
document received by human rights lawyers shows that Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan,
dubbed as “Butcher of Mindoro” by rights groups, was rapped by the
Commission on Human Rights for the spate of killings in the island. This was
contained in an en banc resolution dated March 16 but received by the counsel
only on May 18.
BY
EMILY VITAL
Bulatlat.com
A
document received by human rights lawyers shows that Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan,
dubbed as “Butcher of Mindoro” by rights groups, was rapped by the
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for the spate of killings in the island. This
was contained in an en banc resolution dated March 16 but received by the
counsel only on May 18.
The
CHR castigated Palparan in its resolution for the alleged abduction and killing
of human rights leader Eden Marcellana and peasant leader Eddie Gumanoy. The two
were abducted April 21 last year. Their
bodies were found two days later in Bansud, Mindoro Oriental.
Amid
strong objections from human rights advocates and people’s organizations,
Palparan was secretly promoted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. While
alleged to be the mastermind of the spate of killings in Mindoro Oriental, he
was merely transferred to another command despite his record.
Daunting
In
the resolution, the Commission states, “It is common knowledge and state of
mind that reports of killings of civilians in Mindoro have been daunting.”
As
then commander of the 204th Infantry Brigade, the Commission says
Palparan was aware of the complaints and spate of killings.
The
resolution further states, “It is appalling to note that Col. Palparan failed
to initiate investigation, especially that his unit and the personnel under his
command have been complained of to have complicity in the violations to life of
the victims. As agent of the state,
Col. Palparan is the responsible officer to act and address this impunity under
his jurisdiction.”
The
CHR cited certain regulations governing the conduct of internal security
operations. Among them is respect
for human rights and command responsibility.
Moral
victory
In
a telephone interview with Bulatlat.com, human rights lawyer Edre Olalia
said the CHR resolution was a pleasant surprise and a moral victory.
Olalia
said the Commissioners got one of the most commendable documentation of human
rights violations. “The
Commissioners saw through it.”
“We
believe the mobilization during hearings compelled the CHR to castigate Palparan.
It’s going to be suicidal for the CHR to ignore totally the complaints
against Palparan,” Olalia said.
Not
enough
However,
Olalia said the victims and relatives remain critical to the CHR resolution.
He said the CHR only chided Palparan for failing to investigate cases of
human rights violations but failed to see that Palparan himself is the primary
suspect to these killings.
“It
fell short of delivering the kind of justice the victims and their relatives
demand,” said Olalia.
Whitewash
Olalia
further said that the resolution has somehow validated the belief of the victims
and relatives that cases filed before the justice department against Palparan
are going in the direction of whitewash.
On
Feb. 26, relatives and witnesses of Marcellana and Gumanoy issued a statement
withdrawing their complaints before the CHR.
Complainants
Orly Marcellana, widower of Eden; Maria Gumanoy, widow of Eddie; Christine dela
Cruz, witness and victims and Irein Cuasay, spokesperson of Karapatan-Southern
Tagalog, said in their statement, “Walang saysay, walang ngipin ang
Komisyong ito.” (This Commission is toothless, senseless).
The
withdrawal of the complaints came after the confirmation of promotion of
Palparan and the killings of Atty. Juvy Magsino, vice mayor of Naujan, Mindoro
Oriental and Leyma Fortu, secretary general of Karapatan provincial chapter.
“It
is so easy to understand how they would lose faith in the justice system,”
said Olalia.
Olalia
revealed that hearings before the justice department have been postponed.
“By November last year, the preliminary investigation was already
finished. Until now, the justice
department has not issued a resolution.”
Olalia
related the hearings in the Committees of Justice and Human Rights in the House
and Senate regarding Marcellana-Gumanoy killings have not come up with any
resolution either. Bulatlat.com
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