Defense chief: Palparan's hiding hurting AFP image

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secetary Voltaire Gazmin has said fugitive general Jovito Palparan Jr.’s refusal to come out to clear his name is destroying the image of the military.

In a chance interview, Gazmin challenged Palparan to surrender and face the accusations hurled against him.

“Prove yourself (Palparan) to be innocent if you are innocent. He is a fugitive. He is destroying the image of the armed forces,” Gazmin told reporters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig Wednesday night.

“If he never did anything wrong, he should come out and face the music,” he added.

Gazmin was asked to react to an Army video showing Palparan being linked with extrajudicial killings, an image peddled repeatedly by militant groups.

The video, produced by the Army and its multi-sectoral advisory board, came out amid claims by some sectors in the military that the activists have “demonized” Palparan through trial by publicity.

The video was shown during the renewal of the military officers’ commitment to the Army Transformation Roadmap in Fort Bonifacio.

In the video, a woman portrayed by Mae “Juana Change” Paner is afraid of a soldier as she recalls the negative stories that marred the military’s image including Palaparan’s alleged involvement in killings.

Other images that were shown in the video include the declaration of martial law by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, protests against human rights abuses and the corruption issue involving former armed forces comptroller Carlos Garcia.

The four-minute video aims to show that the Army is ready to serve the people and is undertaking reforms through its transformation roadmap.

Gazmin said the video serves as a “challenge” for Palparan, who used to be the commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division.

“The message there (in the video) do not smear your organization,” the defense chief said.

Gazmin said he is not aware of any effort by retired generals to convince Palparan to surface.

Palparan has been accused of ordering the kidnapping of student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno in 2006.

The Malolos Regional Trial Court has issued a hold departure order against him after he had been indicted for the students’ disappearance.

The police has formed tracker teams to run after Palparan and his co-accused military personnel Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado Jr., S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio and M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario.

The government has offered P2 million for information that would lead to his arrest.

Palparan’s camp recently asked the Court of Appeals to stop his indictment, saying the former general was deprived of due process.