By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective It is ironic that retired Army Gen. Jovito Palparan, who is called “The Butcher” by human rights groups for the trail of blood he left wherever he was assigned, is now saying that he did not surrender because he fears for his life. And the Aquino government, after arresting him…
“The arrest of Jovito Palparan, a retired army major general, marks a rare challenge to the country’s rampant impunity, which the government of President Benigno Aquino III has failed to adequately address,” Carlos Conde, Human Rights Watch
SPECIAL REPORT: His eyewitness account, lauded by the Supreme Court for being clear, categorical, consistent and credible, served as among the evidences that led to the filing of charges of two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the enforced disappearance of the two students of the University of the Philippines Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, along with farmer Manuel Merino, on June 26, 2006 in Hagonoy, Bulacan.
“They could only claim that it is an ‘executive’ session if they admit to an illegal act. But even then, the said session would not be considered by the court as an executive session because the privilege cannot be used to commit or cover up a crime or an illegal act.” – Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares
“We cannot blame our kababayans if they would opt not to return to the Philippines because no jobs, livelihood and security for their families await them here. The government is also mainly accountable for placing our kababayans in the situation they are in now,” said Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International