Read also:

CHRA: Prosecute the real enemies of the people

The Melo Commission released an 89-page report this week tagging berdugo Jovito Palparan accountable for the killings in his areas of responsibility while on tour of duty. Palparan served as chief of the 204th Infantry Battalion in Mindoro Island, Southern Tagalog region from 2001 to 2003, which was the laboratory for the Oplan Bantay Laya, killing 326 individuals, and scores of Mangyan indigenous peoples. In February 2005, 199 deaths took place at Eastern Visayas during his term as chief of the 8th Infantry Division. AS chief of the 7th Infantry Division in Nueva Vizcaya, 13 leaders and members of Bayan Muna Partylist were killed in only one month.

At this point, the CPA urges and demands the Melo Commission to deliver its task and obligation to the victims’ families and the Filipino people, to persist in prosecuting Palparan for his crimes against humanity, whose life is nothing close to the worth of the lives of those killed. The Commission must prove its competence and purpose. Palparan must not, and should not be rewarded any more posts in government, as we know this to only be cover for him to carry on with the killings, with the blessing of Arroyo as Commander in Chief. If Palparan deserves anything, it would be to endure the punishment of paying for his dues.

Equally vile and revolting is the AFP Commander in Chief, Gloria Arroyo, for her relentless backing up and commendation to the despicable works of Palparan, having awarded him the Gawad Kaunlaran in 2002, and promoting him to Brigadier General in 2003, after the gruesome murders of Eddie Gumanoy and Eden Marcellana. In fact, in GMA’s State of the Nation Address last year, Palparan was praised to high heavens for his unwavering fight against “terrorism”. In this case, the end justifies the means. The deaths are duly rewarded with strategic government posts, so as to prop up the fake president’s political survival.

Command responsibility
Palparan’s culpability in the killings sweeping the country has time and again been raised by human rights organizations, legal and progressive groups and partylists, and peace and human rights advocates up to the international community. The deaths now total 818 at the national level, with over 90 killings of indigenous leaders. Palparan has proved to be the most rabid implementor of the regime’s policy of political killings, thus his indispensability to GMA’s political survival. The killings have extended to lawyers, the media, church workers, and even local government officials who are competent and critical.

Arroyo’s hands are as tarnished as Palparan’s, for having orchestrated the State policy of political killings, as Commander in Chief. Five Bayan Muna members were killed in just a week in Bicol. There is no way GMA can deny that this has nothing to do with Oplan Bantay Laya, when it has everything to do with it, and her political survival.

Along with Palparan, GMA must be punished for her crimes against humanity. There has never been any room for human rights, peace and democracy under this regime. To rise against this tyranny and inhumanity, we heighten our call to oust the fascist, militarist Arroyo out of Malacañang!#