Japan Group Releases Report on Killings in Philippines

The HRN fact-finding team also finds several killings that we have investigated are attributed to the element of the AFP directed by Mr. Parparan, and most likely attributed to Mr. Parparan.

1) May 2001-April 2003

During this period, Mr. Palparan was the Brigade Commander of the 204th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division in Mindoro Province. The following incidents are allegedly related to him or his Brigade.

o Case 1 Eden Marcellana

・According to the victim’s husband, she was considered a top enemy of Gen. Palaparan. The victim was preparing a report charging Gen. Palaparan with human rights violations. The report was scheduled to be published as then Colonel Palaparan was preparing for a promotion in the military hierarchy to the rank of General.

・Gen. Palaparan’s direct subordinates held meetings with the local community telling people the victim was a member of the NPA.

・The evidence shows that an element of the 204th Infantry Brigade under Palparan was the perpetrator of the killing.

o Case 11 Felipe Lapa

A family member of the victim saw the perpetrators who were identified as members of the 204th Infantry Brigade under Palparan.

o Case 12 Expedito Albarillo

Mr. and Mrs. Albarillo were killed by an element of the 16th Battalion which is related to the 204th Infantry Brigade.

2) September 2005-September 2006

During the time, Mr. Palparan was the Commanding General of the 7th Infantry Division in Central Luzon. The following incidents are allegedly related to him or his Brigade.

o Case 6: Ricardo Ramos

The witness pointed out the elements of the 48th Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Division under Palparan as the killers.

o Case 16: Sherlyn Cadapan

The witness testified that Sherlyn Cadapan and 2 others were abducted by elements of the 56th Infantry Battalion, the7th Infantry Division under Palparan.

According to the Melo report, with respect to those disappearances, General Palparan said that “those disappearances are good for us but as to who abducted them we don’t know.”

o Case 10: Bishop Alberto Ramento

Bishop Ramento was stabbed to death in his church in Tarlac, on October 3, 2006 immediate after the retirement of General Palparan.

o Case 17 Ronald Intal

Ronald Intal was forcibly taken by armed men on 3 April, 2006. He was well known by the 7th Infantry Division for his support of the Hacienda Luisita strike.

3) Instigation and Encouragement

The HRN fact-finding mission could not obtain any evidence to prove that Mr. Palparan directed or ordered his subordinates within the AFP to perpetrate the killings. Nevertheless, it is clear that he, at least, instigated and encouraged his subordinates to do so.

The report detailed his pronouncements related to extrajudicial killings. The description in the report suggested that General Palparan verbally encouraged and instigated the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. For example:

“Even though they are in Government as Party List Representatives, no matter what appearance they take, they are still Enemies of the State” (May 16, 2006, Philippine Daily Inquirer).

“The killings are being attributed to me but I did not kill them, I just inspire the trigger men.” “I encourage people victimized by communist rebels to get even.”48

Mr. Parpalan is therefore responsible for some of the killings, by at least instigating and encouraging the actual perpetrators within the military.