KARAPATAN Public Information
Sep 11
Press Statement | September 9, 2014
Reference: Cristina “Tinay” Palabay, Secretary General, 0917-3162831
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, 0918-9790580
www.karapatan.org/Marcos+and+Palparan%27s+terror+chills+even+today
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. ###
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KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.
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