‘DND, AFP never doubted Palparan’s innocence’

From the very start, the defense and military establishments never doubted the innocence of retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan who had been linked to the unexplained killings of activists, a senior official said yesterday.

Defense Undersecretary and spokesman Ernesto Carolina said the decision of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) clearing Palparan over the allegations has not only proven the retired general’s innocence but also that of the military establishment.

"We never doubted General Palparan. As a matter of fact Gen. Palparan could have been relieved from his post had the top leadership doubted him. But he retired honorably. He finished his tour (of duty)," Carolina said.

"It was just unfortunate that the calendar caught up with him and he had to be retired but what is important is that the CHR after due process cleared him," Carolina pointed out.

He brushed aside insinuations that the CHR was pressured by the government into clearing Palparan of the allegations.

Carolina pointed out the CHR has been a staunch critic of the military.

But he said Palparan was not necessarily vindicated by the CHR.

"There is nothing to vindicate the military because you know, when you say you are vindicated, you did something wrong," Carolina pointed out.

Carolina urged critics to focus on why the CHR cleared Palparan.

Palparan has been cleared of accusations of various human rights violations in Central Luzon, including killings and enforced disappearances, allegedly perpetrated when he was commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Laur, Nueva Ecija.

Eligio Mallari, the CHR officer-in-charge for Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa Region and the Bicol Region, said there is no direct evidence that would pin the former general.

Militants have tagged Palparan as "the butcher," citing the proliferation of different cases of human rights abuse in towns and provinces where he was once assigned. – With Katherine Adraneda