Arroyo accountable for Palparan rights record—Magdalo solons

Fugitive former Philippine Army Maj.Gen. Jovito Palparan is helped by National Bureau of Investigation agents following his news conference Tuesday, Aug.12, 2014 in Manila, Philippines. AP

MANILA, Philippines—Two Magdalo solons said former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo should be held responsible for the alleged human rights violations of arrested Retired General Jovito Palparan.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said Arroyo should be held accountable as commander-in-chief at the time Palparan was tagged as being behind the human rights violations against activists that earned him the monicker “The Butcher.”

Alejano said Palparan was even commended by Arroyo in her 2006 State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Arroyo in 2006 then said of Palparan: “In the 7th Division area of responsibility, Jovito Palparan has come to grips with the enemy… He would not give up until the people are freed from the night of terror and arise to a new dawn of justice and freedom.”

“If I were the president and I heard that there are human rights violations in an area of a commander, I will call for an investigation,” Alejano said in Filipino.

“He was specifically mentioned (in Arroyo’s Sona) and commended… One way or the other, there is toleration on the part of the President,” Alejano added.

Magdalo Rep. Francisco Ashley Acedillo also said it is possible to hold Arroyo accountable because the chain of command ends with her as commander-in-chief.

He said Arroyo surely knows of Palparan’s deeds because she commended him in her Sona.

“That is the possibility because the chain of command goes up to her. She clearly was very much aware of the activities of Palparan because that formed her basis for commending him publicly in her Sona,” Acedillo said in an interview.

Palparan was arrested early Tuesday morning in Manila as he faces an arrest warrant issued by the Malolos regional trial court on charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan.  He went into hiding after the arrest warrant was issued in December 2011.

Acedillo and Alejano are members of the Magdalo group, which was behind the 2003 Oakwood mutiny when hundreds of Magdalo soldiers led by Antonio Trillanes IV seized Oakwood serviced apartments in Makati in a failed bid to force Arroyo to resign over alleged corruption.

Four years later, Alejano joined Trillanes in their walk-out from a court hearing in 2007 for a six-hour siege in Manila Peninsula Hotel, before they surrendered to authorities. Acedillo did not join the walk-out.

Alejano was detained in Camp Crame Custodial Center while Acedillo in Villamor Airbase while they faced trial for rebellion charges.

Trillanes sought amnesty from President Aquino in 2011, and got it two weeks before the Makati Regional Trial Court was to hand down its verdict on his case.

Acedillo and Alejano ran in the 2013 elections under Magdalo party-list which won two seats.

Ironically, it is now Arroyo who is under hospital detention as she faces plunder charges over the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.

RELATED STORIES

NBI arrests fugitive Palparan in Manila

Jovito Palparan: I don’t want to be killed by the enemy

Palparan wanted to surrender but feared for his life

5 things you need to know about Jovito Palparan

Rights lawyer confident of Palparan’s conviction

‘It’s a good thing you caught me,’ Palparan tells arresting officers

Solon calls for Palparan’s protection to ensure justice

Palace: No special treatment for Palparan