Hontiveros to fugitive general: Stop hiding, Arroyo can’t protect you now
Akbayan Party today called on the Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO) to repudiate retired major general Jovito Palparan and declare him an enemy of the Filipino soldiers and the military institution.
The political party issued the statement in response to AGFO’s accusation of “trial by publicity” against Palparan. Akbayan called the retired officers’ defense of Palparan as “regrettable."
“Imbes na ipagtanggol si Palparan, dapat tulungan ng mga dating opisyales ng hukbong sandatahan ang gobyerno at mamamayan na tugisin si Palparan,” Akbayan Spokesperson Risa Hontiveros said.
“Dahil sa mga ginawa ni Palparan, dinungisan niya ang institusyon ng hukbong sandatahan at nilabag ang tungkulin niyang ipagtanggol ang mga mamamayan. Dapat ang mga dating heneral ang mangunang bumatikos kay Palparan,” according to Hontiveros.
Hontiveros also called on Palparan to stop hiding and face the charges against him in court since his patron can no longer give him protection.
“Wala nang Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na magtatanggol kay Palparan. Kung tangap nga ni Ginang Arroyo ang kanyang kapalaran, baka pwedeng magsama na si Palparan at ang amo niya,” Hontiveros said.
According to Hontiveros, Palparan “did Arroyo’s dirty work for her by silencing dissent against the former president and terrorizing entire communities wherever he was assigned. In exchange, Arroyo abused the powers of the state to provide a sanctuary for Palparan. Now that Arroyo is facing charges against her crimes, Palparan should likewise become accountable.”
Hontiveros also called Palparan’s refusal to surrender to the authorities as giving weight to his guilt. According to Hontiveros, “The mere fact that Palparan tried to board a plane to Singapore after promising to face his cases and is now hiding points to his guilt. It also betrayed his cowardice.”
“Noong heneral pa si Palparan, ginamit niya ang lakas ng armas para manakot ng mga mamamayan. Ngayong siya na ang inuusig ng taumbayan gamit ang batas, siya ang nangaakusa na wala siyang makukuhang katarungan. Naduduwag na ata si Palparan na harapin ang mga kaso niya dahil tiyak na makikitang guilty siya,” according to Hontiveros.
Akbayan called on the public to be vigilant and help the authorities in providing information as to the whereabouts of Palparan. According to the group, “Palparan’s trial in the courts is an extension of the public’s campaign for accountability.”
“Palparan gave the Arroyo government one of the worst human rights records and sowed fear and terror in the hearts of ordinary civilians. We cannot allow such a dangerous man as Palparan to escape justice. He may no longer be in the armed service but his experience in committing atrocities and evading culpability means that our authorities cannot rest until he has been placed under the jurisdiction of the courts,” Hontiveros said. ###
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