“Everybody should learn from Palparan. His statement clearly shows that he sees himself as above civilian supremacy, exempted from liability and licensed to kill, abduct, torture anyone he intends to. It is the dominant state of mind of the military, police and other state forces,” said Joseph Canlas, AMGL Chairperson.
Last month, AMGL directed all its chapters and members to support the search for the fugitive general.
“Some of our chapters have relayed reports that he was spotted at some provinces in the region, and we instructed our members to thoroughly confirm them. We believe that he is being coddled by the military, putting him at their stronghold,” said Canlas.
AMGL challenged the Aquino government to immediately arrest Palparan and not doing so is the clear proof that he is under their protection.
“With all the capabilities of the Aquino government, the military and its law-enforcing bodies, it is very unbelievable that they are unable to find Palparan whose network was build within the operation of the government,” Canlas said.
AMGL said that failure to arrest Palparan is an indicator that the legal system under president Aquino’s watch is pathetic and ineffective that would eventually lead to the worsening culture of impunity and human rights abuses. The group believes the military is bent to protect Palparan as they view his arrest as a let-down to their morale.
“There is a strong perception that he is under the protection of the Aquino government as he terrorized members of legal-democratic organizations during the implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya and it is continued at present through Aquino’s counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan. Palparan’s declaration that the case against him is a ‘farce’ proves that he knows the Aquino government is merely ‘acting’ on hunting him,” Canlas said. #