The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) posed this question at the second congressional hearing regarding the human rights violations perpetrated by the 8th Infantry Division under Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, the so-called ‘Butcher of Mindoro’ and now the ‘Executioner of Samar’. 

According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group, “it seems that Palparan wants to turn Samar into a ‘howling wilderness’ just like what Gen. Jacob Smith did during the Philippine-American war.  To date there are now 199 cases of killing, frustrated killing, disappearance, harassment, torture, physical assault, arbitrary arrest and detention of civilians, peasant activists, rights advocates and party-list lawmakers since Palparan’s reassignment on February 10, 2005,” 

“It is good that media attention has been brought to the spate of killings of journalists and lawyers and the government had released statements condemning these, but up till now nary a pip can be heard from Malacanang regarding the killing of 38 activists in the span of five months. But its silence speaks volumes, because it verifies our doubts that indeed the killings are now the state policy for critics of the regime, it is a take no prisoner policy,” added the peasant leader. 

Meanwhile Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary of KMP, “Palparan can be likened to Gen. Grievous of the Star Wars, for sowing fear and terror upon the populace by launching an all-out war against those standing for democracy and genuine social justice. Grievous murdered a lot of Jedis as Palparan now is murdering a lot of activists,”

“Imagine if he becomes the chief of staff of the AFP then it is as if democracy and our civil rights, will be buried with our fallen martyrs. When all is said and done Palparan is a prime example of the Dark Side trying to conquer the country, and we will do everything to stop him,” ended Marbella. # # #
 

KMP - 31 May 2005