Days before BS Aquino’s scheduled ‘good governance’ parade during
his four-nation European-trip, several Europe-based organizations sent a letter
to Malacañang on the prosecution of notorious general Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito
Palparan Jr.
Days before BS Aquino’s scheduled ‘good governance’ parade during
his four-nation European-trip, several Europe-based organizations sent a letter
to Malacañang on the prosecution of notorious general Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito
Palparan Jr.
"While BS Aquino boasts his so-called achievements before the leaders of
Spain, Belgium, France and Germany, he also has to answer issues such as human
rights and impunity," Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said.
London-based organization, Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers wrote to BS
Aquino: The abhorrent nature of the offences, and Gen. Palparan’s alleged
involvement whilst holding position as a high-ranking military official, mean
that we, and many other international legal, judicial and political organizations,
will be watching the progress of the trial with great interest.
"We also urge the Philippine Government to grasp this opportunity to take
further steps in finding the many hundreds and thousands of people in the
Philippines who, like Ms. Empeño and Ms. Cadapan, have been disappeared and to bring the
perpetrators of such crimes to justice," said the letter signed by Liz
Davies, chair of Haldane Society of Society Lawyers.
Meanwhile, Netherlands Philippines Solidarity Association also wrote the Philippine
President saying, "We are aware that these crimes were committed before
you became president. But, as current Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines and incumbent President of the Republic of the Philippines, you
have the power and responsibility to ensure that genuine justice and rule of
law will prevail."
The Dutch organization also brought up the issue of human rights violations
against farm workers of Hacienda Luisita, an issue BS Aquino is easily piqued.
"These human rights violations were committed, according to the
independent human rights investigations, during the time Palparan was assigned
as commanding general of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army
assigned in Central Luzon," the letter said. It cited the killing of labor
leader Ricardo Ramos, Florante Collantes and the disappearance of Ronaldo
Intal.
"We expect to see decisive actions and concrete steps from you to see to
it that justice is served and the impunity ended," the letter stated.
"The BS Aquino can paint a picture of the Philippines using words such as
‘good governance is good economics,’ to distract his audience but the citizens
of the European countries are aware of the situation the Filipinos are in—the
poverty, the social injustice, human rights violations and impunity. They are
watching and acting on the situation, unlike BS Aquino," Palabay ended.