Sister's Association in Mindanao

SAMIN

Sisters’ Association in Mindanao

mindasrs25@yahoo.com

AFP 10^th ID: Stop the persecution of Churchpeople!

May 25, 2009

“They will arrest and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. You will bear witness… and some of you will be put to death” (Luke 21: 12-18).

The Sisters’ Association in Mindanao joins the outrage over the reported AFP 10th Infantry Division’s Order of Battle which brands religious and other sectors as enemies of the state in violation of our human rights.

It is indeed disturbing to know that such an order exists from the AFP, which labels churchpeople, lawyers, journalists, activists and NGO workers as enemies of the state.

It is further disturbing that church people, congregations and church-based groups, in particular, are included. It is condemnable that church people who are fulfilling Christ’s mandate to bring the Good News to the poor (Luke 4: 16-19) are subject to this vilification campaign.

This order puts all the individuals and organizations in the list in grave danger, including church people. That SAMIN as an organization, and not just its personalities, is included in the list, indicates a threat to its 350 Catholic nun members from 40 congregations in Mindanao.

The harassments against the Sisters have been manifested already with the illegal detention of Sr. Stella Matutina, OSB and with the illegal raids in two sisters’ convents in Butuan City in 2006. If we may recall, Sr. Stella was illegally held against her will along with her thre companions by the 67^th Infantry Battalion in Cateel, Davao Oriental after doing advocacy work against large-scale mining. On November 2006, the convents of the Contemplative Good Shepherds and the Missionary Sisters of Mary were raided by the police on false allegations that they are keeping a rebel leader in their convents. Both cases have shown that even religious can be subject to the attacks of the state.

We also recall that as early as 2005, SAMIN was already among those included in the “mother of all powerpoints” by the military, the “Knowing the Enemy” powerpoint, wherein pictures of our members and our activities were taken out from our old website and inserted in that powerpoint as “enemies of the state” .

These accusations remind us of the Biblical times, when being Christians meant putting one’s life in danger of being persecuted and killed by the soldiers of the Roman Empire. Today, this persecution continues with the military’s attack on the religious, especially on those who dare to speak God’s message of hope, denouncing the evils of society and taking sides with God’s chosen poor.

The accusations are not new for SAMIN, since its formation during Martial Law in 1983, the Sisters have stood steadfastly with the poor, and suffered with the poor against the oppression of the Marcos Dictatorship. And as a new tyranny is in our midst, SAMIN is emboldened to continue with its commitment of fighting the darkness of oppression and corruption, and bringing the light of hope and justice for the poor and Creation. We are compelled to carry out our mission to: “speak courageously, live contemplatively, and act prophetically.”

SAMIN calls on everyone to act in defense of human rights and dignity. We also call on the government authorities to stop the persecution of church people and the poor.

For Reference:

SR. ELSA COMPUESTO, MSM

Executive Secretary

0917-435-0089

SAMIN

Sisters’ Association in Mindanao

mindasrs25@yahoo.com

AFP 10^th ID: Stop the persecution of Churchpeople!

May 25, 2009

“They will arrest and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. You will bear witness… and some of you will be put to death” (Luke 21: 12-18).

The Sisters’ Association in Mindanao joins the outrage over the reported AFP 10th Infantry Division’s Order of Battle which brands religious and other sectors as enemies of the state in violation of our human rights.

It is indeed disturbing to know that such an order exists from the AFP, which labels churchpeople, lawyers, journalists, activists and NGO workers as enemies of the state.

It is further disturbing that church people, congregations and church-based groups, in particular, are included. It is condemnable that church people who are fulfilling Christ’s mandate to bring the Good News to the poor (Luke 4: 16-19) are subject to this vilification campaign.

This order puts all the individuals and organizations in the list in grave danger, including church people. That SAMIN as an organization, and not just its personalities, is included in the list, indicates a threat to its 350 Catholic nun members from 40 congregations in Mindanao.

The harassments against the Sisters have been manifested already with the illegal detention of Sr. Stella Matutina, OSB and with the illegal raids in two sisters’ convents in Butuan City in 2006. If we may recall, Sr. Stella was illegally held against her will along with her thre companions by the 67^th Infantry Battalion in Cateel, Davao Oriental after doing advocacy work against large-scale mining. On November 2006, the convents of the Contemplative Good Shepherds and the Missionary Sisters of Mary were raided by the police on false allegations that they are keeping a rebel leader in their convents. Both cases have shown that even religious can be subject to the attacks of the state.

We also recall that as early as 2005, SAMIN was already among those included in the “mother of all powerpoints” by the military, the “Knowing the Enemy” powerpoint, wherein pictures of our members and our activities were taken out from our old website and inserted in that powerpoint as “enemies of the state” .

These accusations remind us of the Biblical times, when being Christians meant putting one’s life in danger of being persecuted and killed by the soldiers of the Roman Empire. Today, this persecution continues with the military’s attack on the religious, especially on those who dare to speak God’s message of hope, denouncing the evils of society and taking sides with God’s chosen poor.

The accusations are not new for SAMIN, since its formation during Martial Law in 1983, the Sisters have stood steadfastly with the poor, and suffered with the poor against the oppression of the Marcos Dictatorship. And as a new tyranny is in our midst, SAMIN is emboldened to continue with its commitment of fighting the darkness of oppression and corruption, and bringing the light of hope and justice for the poor and Creation. We are compelled to carry out our mission to: “speak courageously, live contemplatively, and act prophetically.”

SAMIN calls on everyone to act in defense of human rights and dignity. We also call on the government authorities to stop the persecution of church people and the poor.

For Reference:

SR. ELSA COMPUESTO, MSM

Executive Secretary

0917-435-0089

OCARM-JPIC STATEMENT

Come let us walk in the light of the Lord!” (Isaiah 2:5).

“Let us then throw off the works of darkness and

put the armor of light…Rom. 13:11)”

As we prepare and celebrate the season of Advent, we are invited to be awake and prepared. Advent means, “coming or arrival,” thus we must be ready to receive the message of God’s coming through the Messiah. We need advent to remind us that justice and peace will be achieved in the future amid the signs of the times.

The Order of Carmelites Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation shares the call of prophet Isaiah and Apostle Paul “that people will come together in the Lord’s name. Wars will cease and there will be peace.

We respond to this challenge as we face the darkness brought by the glaring issues of large-scale corruption, human rights crisis and economic plunder that still await truthful and just resolution.

We lament the death of poor 11-year-old Marianet Amper who ended her life by hanging because of extreme poverty. We are scandalized by the wave of corruption and bribery, including the anomalous NBN- ZTE deal and distribution of “early Christmas gifts” to win over the loyalty of congressmen and governors for the administration. The multi-million anomalies leave our people ever more dispossessed, including the 728 million fertilizer scam, the $2-million Impsa power plant pay-off, the P28-billion Northrail project, the P200-million Jose Pidal bank account, the P1.3-billion Mega Pacific Comelec computerization scam, and the P1.1-billion Macapagal Boulevard overpriced contract.

While prices of basic commodities steadily increase, no substantial wage and salary hikes have been implemented and excessive taxes continue to burden the poor. While disasters and ever deepening poverty continues to grip the nation, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and several administration lawmakers together with their families are spending public funds for their trip abroad.

We join the cries for justice for all the victims of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations, the Glorietta and Batasan bombings and massive militarization that brought massive displacement to civilian communities.

Guided by our Carmelite Constitutions 111: “We live in a world full of injustice and disquiet. It is our duty to contribute to the search for an understanding of the causes of these evils.”

The morally bankrupt regime that has governed with fraud and violence is clearly the cause of evils in our nation today. We thus join the Filipino people in the pursuit of truth and justice. To save our people from the dark powers of this corrupt-ridden administration, for the good of the nation, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must step down now!

Fr. Jerry Sabado, O.Carm. –National Convenor Order of Carmelites-JPIC

#26 Acacia St., Barangay Mariana, Quezon City

Phone (02)724-2371/ Cell no. 09066500319

Kontra-Daya slams Comelec, Arroyo
________________________________________

The presence of several watchdogs in this year’s elections is an offshoot of the fraudulent 2004 elections.

It is a reflection of the Filipino people’s belief in elections as a means of effective and democratic change in the country’s leadership.

In its post-election report, Kontra- Daya one of the non-government watchdogs this election, says the Commission on Elections and Gloria Arroyo are both liable for the questionable reports of the May 14 elections.

Among those who are active in Kontra-Daya are Josie Lichauco, former secretary of Transportation and Communications; Gen. (ret.) Gerry Cunanan and activist Carol Araullo.

Kontra-Daya said the performance of Armed Forces of the Philippines this election was worse than its anomalous role in 2004 as exposed in the Hello Garci tapes.

Kontra-Daya’s take on the military: "The elections in 2007 are far, far worse than that of 2004 with regard to the AFP’s uncalled for and illegitimate involvement. The People’s International Observers Mission (PIOM), Task Force Poll Watch and Kontra Daya’s own election monitoring showed unacceptable patterns of intervention coming from military units and their officials. If in 2004 only some generals were involved in fraud (as revealed by the "Garci tapes"), in 2007 we can say that the entire chain of command was being used and manipulated for the purposes of fraud and violence.
"The Comelec has failed to stop the AFP from engaging in partisan political activities. Two of the most glaring examples are the AFP’s vilification campaign against militant party list groups and the AFP’s all-out support for administration bets and party list groups. The AFP in Metro Manila also attempted to clothe its smear campaign in the guise of a ‘voters’ education program,’ a move immediately unmasked and opposed by various citizens’ groups.

"There are persistent reports that high-ranking officials of the military are using the chain of command to force soldiers to vote for administration bets and party list groups. Fact-finding bodies like the PIOM noted that in Nueva Ecija, soldiers coerced people to vote for the Bantay party list of Gen. Jovito Palparan. Media reports, on the other hand, also say that local absentee voting for soldiers was conducted under questionable conditions. Despite all these issues, the Comelec has turned a blind eye to the blatant partisanship exhibited by the AFP and its officials."
Kontra-Daya continues to monitor the canvassing of election results by the Comelec. Here are excerpts from its initial conclusions:

"The 2007 elections are compromised by the Comelec’s failure to ensure the credibility of the polls. At the least, it failed to dismantle the structural systems and conditions encouraging wholesale fraud. At most, it showed complicity with blatant acts of fraud and other violations of the Election Code. Even the traditional watchdog groups such as Namfrel and PPCRV, that are official citizens’ arms of the Comelec, have carefully refrained from issuing statements absolving the Comelec of election negligence, mismanagement or sabotage.

"Kontra Daya raises these general statements on the 2007 elections:

1. There are initial indications that the Arroyo administration is engaged in large-scale electoral fraud in an attempt to secure favorable results for its candidates in the national elections (senatorial and party-list).

a. Throughout the campaign period and right up to Election Day, Malacanang led and directed a massive campaign of vote-buying for its candidates.

b. Malacanang has made partisan use of the military to campaign for administration candidates and against opposition groups especially the militant party lists.

c. In the ongoing period of counting and canvassing of votes, efforts to directly manipulate the election results in favor of Malacanang’s candidates and against the administration’s opponents (senatorial candidates and party-list groups) are underway.

2. Comelec is directly complicit with the Arroyo administration in perpetrating the ongoing electoral fraud.

a. At its highest level, the Comelec issued statements, policies, and resolutions that were in accordance with the interests of Malacanang particularly in the Cayetano case, the Robredo disqualification, and the "Malacañang party list" issue.

b. The Comelec laid the groundwork for electoral fraud which include among others the private printing of election forms, padded voters’ list, selective implementation of laws and the last-minute appointment of BEIs.

c. The Comelec also aided and abetted fraud through its inaction on numerous blatant violations of election laws from the shameless vote-buying by administration officials to the blatant partisanship of the AFP.

d. The presence and promotion of election officers previously linked to fraud in Mindanao also shows complicity to commit fraud on the part of the Comelec.

e. Comelec chairman Abalos in particular makes it a point to rationalize if not cover up election-related anomalies which have come to light. He too is in a state of almost total denial when it comes to election fraud.

The full report can be accessed at www.kontradaya.wordpress.com

Readers who missed a column can go to http://www.ellentordesillas.com

Email address: ellentordesilla

Carmelite Order's JPIC

Please visit also the Carmelite Order's Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation's Website. We are a member of United Nations NGO. We would be glad to hear from you. Thank you for visiting our site and links. Just click on the link below:

CARMELITE NGO

Philippine Human Rights Report for 2006

Click Here to see the Full Report of Philippine Human Rights Report for 2006

To view also other Asian Countries Human Rights Report, click on the link below:

Click Here to see HR situation of other Asian Countries

Letter of PCPR

PRESS RELEASE
February 14, 2007

Church group appeals to UN Rap on Political Killings: Look, Judge beyond Malacañang -AFP-PNP Cover-Up

The Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR), a church-based human rights group, is appealing to Mr. Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Killings, to look, listen and judge beyond the Malacañang-AFP-PNP cover-up on state accountability over the 833 cases of political killings under Arroyo.

The group notes, "We received information that in one of Mr. Alston's meeting with government representatives, the case of Bishop Alberto Ramento was cited as a plain case of robbery. The family and co-workers of Bishop Ramento believe that he was killed not by plain thieves but by state agents ordered to eliminate groups and personalities advocating regime change.

As we have wrote to Mr. Alston earlier, the fact that Bishop Ramento and 24 other church people were not spared is a glaring manifestation of extreme level of state repression. We respectfully ask Mr. Alston to probe into the level of official state policy pertaining to the massive vilification, harassment, unjust arrests and summary executions of members of progressive political parties and community activists across the nation.

BEWARE OF WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

"Mr. Alston must brace himself for more lies and cover-up as he meets with Arroyo's team of policy-makers on national security, particularly Mr. Norberto Gonzales whom he will be meeting tomorrow. On his 10-day mission, every encounter with Mrs Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Exec. Sec. Eduardo Ermita, Mr. Norberto Gonzales and top military and police officials is like meeting wolves in sheep's clothing. The wolves are wearing dignified smiles and best attire, but in truth they are accountable for the most devious schemes behind the staggering number of political killings and persecution. We ask Mr. Alston to look and listen beyond claims of plain robbery, 'leftists killing leftists' and other attempts to point the blame on non-state entities," O.Carm. JPIC stressed.

STATE COVER-UP THROUGH POLICE, TF USIG SHAM INVESTIGATIONS

"As we have noted in documents submitted to the UN team, church groups are unhappy about the conduct of police and Task Force Usig investigations: Simply because Bishop Ramento’s cellular phone and ring were discovered stolen after the incident, the Philippine National Police was quick to dismiss the case as a simple case of robbery with homicide. Our independent investigation found that the crime scene investigation by the police was perfunctorily finished in a speed of about two hours and thereafter they did not cordon off the crime scene, thus allowing everyone in. Except for the sworn statement of the church caretaker, Archimedes Ferrer, there was also no interview done on the family and the people close to Bishop Ramento after the crime scene investigation and before they single-mindedly declared it just a few hours after the crime scene investigation that it was a case of robbery with homicide," PCPR stated.

PCPR pointed out that in the case of Rev. Edison Lapuz , police and the Task Force Usig reported last year, ""Lapuz was accused of juggling funds generated through pledges, donations and solicitations for the National Council of Churches in the Philippines…"

The NCCP, through Ms. Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes, General Secretary of the Council, stated, "This pronouncement is downright malicious and unfounded. While active in the human rights program of the NCCP, Rev. Lapuz was never given funds to manage by the organization. To our knowledge, he was never engaged in fund raising for the Council. The "conclusions" of Task Force Usig regarding the cause of extra judicial killings belies the capability of this body to come out with a credible report. To make such a pronouncement without consulting the NCCP which is allegedly the organization whose funds Rev. Lapuz embezzled, clearly shows the quality of the investigation conducted by the Task Force."

PCPR shares the view of the NCCP that Task Force Usig came out with incredible conclusions and has made a mockery of the process of seeking justice for those who have been brutally felled.

In a separate statement, the NCCP welcomed the UN Rapportuer's mission and noted, "Though the pattern of human rights violations is being compared to the dark days of martial law, one significant characteristic stands out: the human rights violations are carried out with impunity against members of people-oriented organizations, churches and political parties. The victims are unarmed and helpless and the inability of government to stop the executions has fueled public frustration and even public accusation that the Philippine government has a hand in these, if not by commission, by inaction."

Finally, PCPR also urged Mr. Alston to include in his recommendation for the Supreme Court to junk the Anti-Terrorism Bill which further justify political killings through arbitrary terrorist labeling of activist groups, human rights organizations and even churches deeply involved in social concerns such as those listed by the military as 'enemies of the state.'

***

REPORT TO THE UNITED NATIONS TEAM
February 14, 2007

A multitude of concerns have been raised regarding the pattern of escalating extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and political persecution in the Philippines today. Though this pattern of human rights violations is being compared to the dark days of martial law, one significant characteristic stands out: the human rights violations are carried out with impunity against members of people-oriented organizations, churches and political parties. The victims are unarmed and helpless and the inability of government to stop the executions has fueled public frustration and even public accusation that the Philippine government has a hand in these, if not by commission, by inaction.

The attacks on activists have escalated despite a pronouncement by the Commission on Human Rights that the government ultimately is accountable for the killings because it has a duty to protect its citizens, and amid calls from London-based Amnesty International for the administration to disband armed groups operating "with (official) acquiescence." Human Rights Organization, Karapatan, has already informed you that as of February 12, 2007, 833 Filipinos have fallen victim to State terrorism.

Church people – clergy and laity alike – have not been spared. In fact, they have been the recent targets of harassment and repression. As of today, 10 clergy and 5 lay workers of church-based programs were extra-judicially killed. You must have already been told that one of the latest cases is the murder of Bishop Alberto Ramento, the former Supreme Bishop of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, a church in concordat relation and communion with the Anglican/Episcopal, Reformed and Old Catholic churches worldwide. Bishop Ramento was a vocal human rights and peace advocate.

Peace building has been the center piece program of the apostolate of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP, for brevity). The ten member churches have consistently taken to task the powers and principalities in this country especially as regards the human rights record of the government. As could be expected, the State has not been too friendly to the Council. It has labeled us as a communist front and placed us in the list of the "enemies of the State." Our national headquarters continues to be under very close watch by the authorities.

Last year, the churches held a Human Rights and Peace Summit to help give visibility to the deteriorating human rights situation under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The churches and a number of our overseas partners called for:

1. The conduct of an independent investigation on these violations of human rights by a group of esteemed individuals from different walks of life such as church people, academicians, lawyers, legislators and leaders of peasants and workers, to be done with dispatch;

2. A thorough inquiry by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council and other international courts of justice to ferret out the truth and to hold accountable those responsible for such wrongdoings;

3. The government to exercise its political will to put an immediate end to the extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other forms of political persecution.

4. The resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

5. Concrete initiatives and programs to support the efforts of victims and families of human rights violations to rebuild their lives, i.e. scholarships, financial and livelihood assistance, etc.
The Philippine churches and our partners are presently in the process of producing a Philippine Human Rights Report which will document our cry of protest. It pleads for the immediate stop to the killings and urges for the just redress of human rights violations. We hope to submit it to governmental, intergovernmental and international bodies, urging them to act on the recommendations. We plan to submit the report to the United Nations Human Rights Council when it meets in Geneva next month.

Allow me, on behalf of the ecumenical community in the Philippines to thank you for your concern. Indeed, you are our partners in the pursuit of peace based on justice.

General Secretary
National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP)

Melo Commission

February 14, 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Carmel,

We in the Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Manila is informing you that the The UN representative for political killings is here for the investigation. The Philippine government is trying again to show that they don't have any involvement in the political killings and trying to manipulate the truth.

For us in the Justice and Peace we cannot just close our eyes and mouth seeing the rampant human rights violations perpetuated most of the time by the state authority.

Please help us to pray that the United Nation's investigations on the political killings - the truth will come out from the testimonies of the victim’s relatives and witnesses and we should denounced the manufactured and one sided investigations of the government's - Task Force Usig, and Melo Commission.

May God bless us all,

JPIC Order of Carmelites

-----------------------------------------

PRESIDENT MAY BE LIABLE - MELO REPORT
STATE ACCOUNTABLE FOR KILLINGS, SAYS COMMISSION

By Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer Inquirer
Last updated 03:25am (Mla time) 02/24/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- President Macapagal-Arroyo may be held accountable under international law if the political killings remain unresolved and unabated under her watch, according to the Melo Commission.

In its 86-page report, the commission led by former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo warned that the government could not “sit idly by and refuse to act.”

“Ultimately, the State has the responsibility of protecting its citizens and making sure that their fundamental liberties are respected,” it said.

The commission drew attention to a growing worldwide consensus for state responsibility for non-state acts.

“T[his] posits that if the State fails to investigate, prosecute or redress private, non-state acts in violation of fundamental liberties, it is in effect aiding the perpetrators of such violations, for which it could be held responsible under international law,” it said.

But Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, who furnished the Malacañang Press Corps a copy of the report on Thursday, countered: “Accusations do not solve the problem; actions do.”

Bunye said that “from the beginning, the government has strongly condemned the killings of activists and journalists,” and stressed that Ms Arroyo formed the Melo Commission “in order to get to the bottom of the political killings that have plagued the nation for many generations.”

He pointed out that the government had even invited members of the international community, such as the European Union and United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston, to help expand the reach of the investigation.

Bunye said Ms Arroyo had “taken decisive action both before the [Melo] report and also in answer to the report, to move the nation forward and stop these killings once and for all.”

He added: “The President will continue to take the necessary actions to lay out the findings, to seek the truth and take decisive action to stop these killings.

“The President calls on the entire nation to show calm and resolve as we move into the volatile campaign season.”

Bunye also said he was “disappointed” that the Melo Report itself was incomplete, “not for want of sincere efforts to get to the bottom of things, but mainly due to the lack of cooperation of a number of victims and their families.”

Int’l responsibility

According to the Melo Report, an illegal act that violates human rights and is initially not directly imputable to a state—for example, because it is the act of private person or because the person responsible has not been identified—“can lead to international responsibility of the State, not because of the act itself, but because of the lack of due diligence to prevent the violation or to respond to it.”

The report highlighted the crucial role to be played by the President in stopping the killings, which were largely blamed by the commission on the military, particularly retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, whom militants groups had dubbed the “Butcher” of Mindoro and Samar.

“If extrajudicial executions are to be stopped, the political will to do what is right however great the cost must pervade all levels of government so that our beloved country can move toward the greater ideals of democracy and justice; it must start with the President who must pursue the prevention and prosecution of extrajudicial killings with urgency and fervor,” the report said.

It also urged her to reiterate “in the strongest possible manner” her condemnation of the killings and her “determination and firm resolve to stop the same.”

“The President and all the departments of the government should make clear to all members of the police and military forces that extrajudicial executions will not be countenanced under any circumstances,” it added.

But the commission also said it was not ignorant of the crimes committed by insurgents against soldiers: “Understandable, justified, and commendable, in fact, is the fervor with which the State, through the military, feels the need to avenge these heroes who perished in the defense of the country. However, this should not be at the cost of the freedom we are protecting in the first place.”

No investigations

The Melo Commission also took to task both the military and police for their kid-glove treatment of Palparan.

The report quoted Philippine National Police Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr., head of Task Force Usig, as saying that Palparan had neither been summoned nor formally investigated by the panel formed last year to look into the political killings.
Razon said the task force could not explain the reason for the killings, and refused to attribute it to Ms Arroyo’s declaration of an all-out war against communist insurgents.

But Razon said he would have preferred that Palparan explain why there was an apparent increase in the killings in areas where he was assigned.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon himself admitted that no formal investigation had been conducted because no formal complaints were filed, the report said.

Palparan, who served in the AFP for 33 years before his retirement last Sept. 11, was invited by the Melo Commission to shed light on the heightened number of killings of media workers and leftist activists in the areas where he was assigned.

These areas included Central Luzon (September 2005 to September 2006), Eastern Visayas (February 2005 to August 2006), and Mindoro (May 2001 to April 2003). (Story on Page A19.)

When asked by the commission how he earned the tag of “butcher,” Palparan said it was part of the “propaganda war” of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army, according to the report.

‘Shoot them’

The report said that in the course of his testimony before the commission, Palparan confirmed having made the following statements:

“My order to my soldiers is that, if they are certain that there are armed rebels in the house or yard, shoot them. It will just be too bad if civilians are killed in the process. We are sorry if you are killed in the crossfire.”

“There would be some collateral damage, but it will be short and tolerable. The enemy would blow it up as a massive violation of human rights. But to me, it would just be necessary incidents.”

“Sorry na lang kung may madamay na civilian. The deaths of civilians and local officials were ‘small sacrifices’ brought about by the military’s anti-insurgency campaign.”

“They cannot be stopped completely. The killings, I would say are necessary incidents in a conflict because they (the rebels) are violent. It’s not necessary that the military alone should be blamed.”

From the tenor of Palparan’s answers, “he entertained the possibility that some of his soldiers may have been responsible for the killings although they were not directed by their commander,” the report said.

SEE THE FULL COMMISSION REPORT BELOW
(pdf format only)

http://www.inquirer.net/verbatim/Meloreport.pdf