The likes of a dictator celebrates the same date of birth, late
President Ferdinand Marcos and Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan.
The likes of a dictator celebrates the same date of birth, late
President Ferdinand Marcos and Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan.
"The terror they both sowed in our country chills even to
this day," Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said today as both
Palparan and Marcos families are celebrating the birthdays of "the
butcher" and "Macoy."
"The terror of Marcos’ counter insurgency Oplan Katatagan,
throughwhich thousands were killed, disappeared, tortured and imprisoned during
the 70’s to early 80’s, is a continuing legacy of state repression which
resembles BS Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan," Palabay said. "In his fourth year
in office, BS Aquino is already accountable for 204 extrajudicial killings,18
of which are minors;21 enforced disappearances, 99 cases of torture, 207
frustrated killings and 39,800 victims of forced evacuations due to intense
military operations," Palabay cited the latest Karapatan human rights
monitor.
“As the main implementer of such counter-insurgency programs, the
Armed Forces of the Philippines, its regular forces and paramilitaries, serves
as mercenaries of the rich and powerful who dominate the political, economic
and cultural landscape of Philippine society. The AFP breeds butcher generals
like Palparan, and they continue to terrorize communities to this day,” Palabay
asserted.
Palparan is facing charges in court for the disappearance of
University of the Philippines students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan.
Palabay cited Gen. Eduardo Ano, involved in the disappearance of Jonas Burgos
and now the series of rights violations in Kapalong, Davao del Sur which he is
deployed as the commander of the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
"Even the craving for dictatorial powers is a Marcos
symptom which BS Aquino is showing," Palabay said. "BS Aquino’s
desire for term extension, changing the constitution to reduce the powers of
the judiciary are signs of a dictatorship which Marcos had during his
very-extended-terms," Palabay said.
"But as history showed, leaders like Marcos, and generals
like Palparan are either ousted or jailed by the Filipino people. The same can
happen to the current administration, even to his generals," Palabay
warned.
"We will not let their crimes go unpunished," Palabay
said.
Jovito Salvana Palparan was born Sept. 11, 1950 while Ferdinand
Marcos was born Sept. 11, 1917.
Coincidentally, it was also on September 11, 2001 when the twin
towers of the World Trade Center in the United States were brought down by Al
Qaida elements. This incident became the US government’s justification for intensifying
wars in Iraq, Afganistan and the rest of the world against so-called
"terrorists" and killed hundreds of thousand lives, including women
and children in all religions and races. In the Philippines, former Pres.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo adopted the US government’s “war against terror” to
justify the numerous rights abuses during her term. ###