It’s Cabuay, not Palparan, at NSA

HELSINKI, Finland — National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, who is with President Arroyo’s party in the Asia-Europe Meeting here, disclosed yesterday retired Army Lt. Gen. Pedro Cabuay and not controversial Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan is actually being groomed to be the deputy national security adviser.

Gonzales told Filipino journalists covering Mrs. Arroyo’s trip that he was surprised over news reports naming Palparan as his next deputy.

"I am the national security adviser so I would know who will be my deputy," Gonzales explained.

Palace officials earlier announced that the President had appointed Palparan as deputy national security adviser for counterinsurgency.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, however, clarified on Friday that the retiring Army officer’s appointment is not yet final.

Gonzales said he respects the capability of Palparan, but the controversial general is not one of the two candidates that he is eyeing to be his deputy.

He said that the two contenders are Cabuay and retired Philippine National Police chief Arturo Lomibao, who was recently appointed as administrator of the National Irrigation Administration, so that leaves Cabuay as the possible deputy national security adviser.

"Cabuay is a silent worker but he delivers good results," Gonzales said.

Prior to Cabuay’s retirement last August, he headed the Armed Forces Southern Command and also served as chief of the Intelligence Service of the AFP, and was also appointed as Armed Forces deputy chief of staff for intelligence.

Meanwhile, Palparan will officially retire from the military service today but allegations of human rights violations and involvement in the killings of leftist activists continue to hound the military officer.

Palparan, however, expressed frustration yesterday for not finishing his objective to eradicate the communist New People’s Army.

"Pwedeng sabihin na source din ng frustration para sa akin na hindi pa rin tapos ang problema natin sa insurgency after having served the military for 30 years," he said in an interview after the testimonial ceremony given to him by his men at the Army’s 7th Infantry Division headquarters at Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City in Nueva Ecija.

Palparan earned the moniker "butcher" from members of militant groups because he was accused of having masterminded the killings of leftist activists. Palparan vehemently denied the allegations.

Palparan explained that because he encouraged the people to fight the NPA there might be some individuals, even some of his men, who might have carried out these killings on their own, saying that although people who support the NPA are considered as "targets," it is not part of government policy to kill them.

"Para sa akin target ang supporters ng NPA but not to the extent that I will have them killed because that is not part of government policy," he said.

He said that the tag "executioner" does not bother him after militant groups accused him of masterminding the killings and forced disappearances of members of militant groups since he became commander of the 204th Infantry Brigade in Mindoro.

Palparan, who has been assigned in various rebel-infested areas and had a short stint with the Philippine contingent to the coalition forces in Iraq, will retire while at the same time celebrate his 56th birthday today.

In formal turnover rites at the Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, Palparan would relinquish his post as 7th ID commander to Brig. Gen. Juanito Gomez, former chief of the military’s National Capital Region Command.

Palparan, unlike top military officers, is not a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy but he finished business administration at the University of the East.

Palparan said that after he retires, he hopes to work more for the government to achieve its goal of finally putting an end to the NPA over a period of two years, as he looks forward to take on his new job as deputy national security adviser.

Ermita said that despite the confusion, Palparan will definitely get a new government post after his retirement so the government can make use of his capabilities.

His new appointment however is being opposed by leftist activists and opposition lawmakers.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., a staunch critic of Mrs. Arroyo, said Palparan’s appointment to a new government post is not appropriate since the military officer is being investigated by the Senate, the Commission on Human Rights, and the newly formed Melo Commission regarding his involvement in extra-judicial killings.

"Such an appointment at this point would send the wrong signal that President Arroyo is exonerating Gen. Palparan which will have the effect of preempting the probe being conducted by the Melo Commission which she created to investigate the political killings and identify their perpetrators," he said.

The World Council of Churches has condemned the killings and called on the government to disband the death squads, private militias, and paramilitary forces operating in the country.

The church group also asked the United Nations Human Rights Council, wherein the Philippines is a member, to take up the issue of extra-judicial killings in the country.

Danilo Ramos, secretary general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, said Palparan should be punished not commended. "His appointment (to a new government post) is like unleashing the butcher on the whole nation to carry out a bloodbath." — Wth James Mananghaya, Cristina Mendez, Aurea Calica, Katherine Adraneda