Padilla said in a recent interview that most soldiers would be delighted if Palparan were released from imprisonment. He made the statement a day after President Duterte signed Proclamation 360 of- fi cially terminating the GRP’s peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
“We don’t care if Padilla is just boosting the morale of his troops. These are very brazen and insensitive statements to make at a crucial time when civilians – mostly farmers and peasant leaders, are being killed, abducted, illegally arrested and detained by the military and diff erent units of the Philippine Army,” said Danilo Ramos, chairperson of KMP.
Ramos said that under Duterte, 96 farmers and peasant leaders were killed while hundreds more activists were arrested and detained.
He recalled that Palparan was jailed in 2014 following kidnap charges against him in relation to the abduction of UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006.
“Palparan is also responsible for the numerous political killings and abductions of activists in Central and Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas from 2001 to 2007 when he was the ground commander of 204th Brigade in Mindoro and Romblon, and commanding general of 8th Infantry Division in Eastern Visayas and the 7th Infantry Division in Central Luzon,” he added.
“To release Palparan from jail and to exonerate him in the Cadapan-Empeno abduction case and all other cases of political killings of activists that he orchestrated while on active service will be tantamount to the exoneration of all human rights violations of military elements and the entire AFP,” he said.
Ramos said “it won’t even matter if the violations were committed in the past, at present or even future human rights violations. It will be a free pass to commit human rights abuses against anyone. We will never allow that.”
“Suggestions, insinuations and even the mere thought of Palparan getting out of jail is unacceptable. It sends the chilling message that if Palparan can get away with anything then it will also be the same for all military elements. Releasing Palparan will be an ‘open season’ to further target activists, progressive mass leaders and critics of the Duterte administration that are now subjects of a crackdown,” Ramos said.
