I’m not saying he’s not guilty, but the Aquino administration would do well to go easy on retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, who is accused of having a hand in the disappearance of two female student activists while he was still in the service.
President Noy, the Armed Forces commander in chief, should take the cue from the implied support of the Association of Generals and Flag Officers for Palparan.
No matter what they say about him being a “berdugo” or butcher, Palparan was very popular with fellow officers and rank-and-file soldiers.
If he really did what he is accused of doing, it was with the tacit approval of AFP higher-ups.
In the military, as in other organizations that have enemies, one does what his enemy is doing to him. To its members, retribution is justified.
My sources in the Armed Forces say the New People’s Army (NPA), as well as Moro rebels, were also involved in the disappearance of military spies and regular troops.
Palparan—again, if he did what he was accused of doing—gave the NPA a dose of its own medicine by kidnapping its sympathizers and regular members.
It’s not only Palparan who did that, if ever. Other AFP officers did it as well, although they were probably more discreet.
Palparan, who is not a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, was one of the favorite generals of former President Gloria. Methinks that was his undoing.
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We have an AFP commander in chief who was quick to blame his own soldiers in the October ambush of Army Scout Rangers in Al-Barka, Basilan province, instead of sympathizing with them.
Nineteen Scout Rangers were massacred in that ambush. Some of them were beheaded by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The officers of the slain soldiers have been placed under investigation and court martial for the deployment of the troops.
And yet, President Noy, who held secret talks with MILF leaders in Tokyo, did not condemn the group.
As an outsider looking in, P-Noy’s action does not inspire loyalty from the troops.
Loyalty is a two-way street. The leader should show loyalty to his troops before he can expect loyalty from them.
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Do you want to be rich or richer in 2012?
Have faith that more money will come to you.
Keep on visualizing or imagining that you already have the amount of money you desire.
Always affirm that you already have the money you desire. Say: “Every day in every way, I am getting richer and richer.”
But I only have a low-paying job, you will say.
Take note of what “Riches within Your Reach,” written by the best-selling author of self-help books, Robert Collier, has to say about acquiring wealth:
“Don’t limit your channels of supply. Don’t think that riches or success must come from some particular job or some rich uncle. It is not for you to dictate to the Creative Force (he means God—RT) the means through which it shall send Its gift to you. There are millions of channels through which It can reach you. Your part is to impress upon Mind (again, God—RT) your need, your earnest desire, your boundless belief in the resources and the willingness of the Creative Force to help you. Plant the seed of desire. Nourish it with a clear visualization of the ripened fruit. Water it with sincere faith. But leave the means to the Creative Force.”
Take note of the last sentence: Leave the means to the Creative Force. In short, don’t tell God you want to get rich by winning in the grand lotto.