The Tanggol Magsasaka, the human rights desk of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) vehemently opposed the incoming promotion of Brig. General Jovito Palparan to being a 3 star general and becoming the chief of staff of the AFP. According to Prof. Cesar Tolosa, spokesperson of Tanggol Magsasaka that “his promotion to being a one star general is still being questioned and now the AFP is promoting him to a 3 star rank?! Palaparan has a very bloody record, is that the system of the army for the promotion of its troops? Is it based on how many human rights violations they have committed or the number of civilians they have killed?”

“In Mindoro alone when Palparan was the commander of the 204th Brigade more than 30 activists have been killed by the AFP, only because they are fighting for their rights,” added the human rights activist.

“The Butcher of Mindoro”, is a patent human rights violator who has a lot of blood in his hands, including those of Ka Eddie Gumanoy, chair of KASAMA-TK and Eden Marcellana, secretary general of KARAPATAN-ST, both were abducted and killed in Mindoro during Palparan’s watch,” lamented Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP.

“If it is government policy to praise and promote human rights violators and butchers, then no wonder that Palparan is again being promoted and is regarded in high esteem by the AFP, DND and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. No wonder also, that soldiers are following Palparan’s footsteps in committing the most heinous crimes in the country sides on the people they were supposed to serve and protect. But mark our words we will do everything to stop this butcher’s promotion. And when the killing of activists starts in Manila we have nobody else to blame but GMA, the AFP and who else Gen. Palparan ” ended Ala. # # #  
 

KMP - 11 August 2004