Philippines: Most controversial military general · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Army Major General Jovito Palparan is implicated in more than a hundred cases of human rights violations. He retired last week from active military service but the government vowed to appoint him soon to continue his anti-communist crusade.
Activists accused him of being a “butcher” but President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo praised him many times and even acknowledged his controversial tactics in defeating the ‘enemies of the state’.
Gen. Palparan neither confirmed nor denied his involvement in the notorious ‘death squads’ which claimed the lives of more than 700 political dissenters since 2001. He insists that he only ‘inspired’ the triggerman.
Piercing Pens blogs about “a problem like Palparan.”
Fullman suggests how to ‘neutralize the menace’ without resorting to violence:
“Since he’s based in remote rural areas, where the only creatures that are active at night are truly nocturnal, the only way to keep him up until the wee hours of the morning is to invite him every night to judge your ubiquitous gay beauty pageants. This is the only strategy that does not violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights…If you are from Bulacan, Nueve Ecija or Pampanga, then do an act of patriotism and invite Palparan to judge your gay beauty contests. Believe me, that would, ehem, neutralize the menace.”
The Professional Heckler also has a humorous commentary on the day of Palparan’s retirement.
Hillblogger explains the consequences if Palparan is given a new job in government:
“A seat on the National Security Council is virtual immunity for Palparan; the seat ensures that he can snub summons by the legislature…he doesn’t have to answer any questions surrounding accusations of extra-judicial killings during his time as a military commander and most of all, he is vested with official powers to put down opposition to (President) Arroyo by simply branding all oppositionists ‘red’.”
Our thoughts are free writes about the real legacy of Palparan in all the areas where he was assigned: a trail of blood and child victims. Torn and Frayed in Manila provides the details of Palparan’s violent record. He also compares Palparan to other infamous individuals:
“Palparan comes from a long and undistinguished line that includes King Leopold II, Butcher of the Congo; Idi Amin, Butcher of Uganda; Ariel Sharon, Butcher of Sabra and Chatilla; and Butcher Cumberland, the victor at Culloden. And now the Philippines has its own butcher.”
Achieving happiness on how activists view Palparan:
“Yes yes yes. Palparan is a serial killer in uniform. If psychiatrists made a profile of how his brain works and how his id and ego are, they'd most likely discover that he's no different from the likes of Jack the Ripper and Hiter. Completely demented, killing calmly and coldly.”
Kalovski Itim Online probes the media spin to give Palparan a ‘soft side.’
Stop the killings website is essential to understand the human rights situation in the Philippine under the present government.
Red star images posted a picture of Palparan.