Palparan's
Path: Trail of Blood, Child Victims
When he exits the military service this Sept. 11, Maj. Gen. Jovito
Palparan, Jr. leaves behind a long list of victims of human rights
violations in the areas where he was assigned. Based on his declarations
in various media interviews, he will perhaps even give a hearty laugh
should his record be described as a trail of blood. But his record speaks
for itself.
BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat
Sept. 10, 2006
/p
/p
GMA on Palparan:
Nakikibaka sa kalaban si Jovito Palparan. Hindi siya aatras hanggang
makawala sa gabi ng kilabot ang mga pamayanan atmakaahon sa bukang
liwayway ng hustisya at kalayaan.
x
Dec. 21, 2011
References:
Mrs. Connie Empeño, mother of missing Karen
Mrs. Linda Cadapan, mother of missing Sherlyn
Contact Person: Aya Santos, Deputy Secretary General
Contact Number: 09275415133/4342837
Joint Statement of Erlinda Cadapan and
Concepcion Empeño
We welcome the issuance of warrants of arrest for Ret. Major General
Jovito Palparan, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, Master Sergeant Rizal Hilario,
and Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio for charges of kidnapping and serious
illegal detention of our daughters, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno.
The Department of Justice resolution finding probable cause against them
on these charges is a product of our arduous and persevering struggle for
justice and to end impunity in the country. For us, it also signifies the
start of a long and rigorous trial to hold Palparan and other human rights
violators accountable.
Such impunity is wrought by the brazen commission of extrajudicial
killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other forms of human rights
violations under the Macapagal-Arroyo regime. Such violations continue
with impunity to this date under the Aquino administration, which has been
remiss in pursuing justice for the victims and has sustained the same kind
of counter-insurgency measure which terrorizes and wantonly violates human
rights.
We emphasize that this significant victory is to the credit of the victims
of human rights violations and their kin, the survivor-witnesses, human
rights defenders, the people’s movement and the freedom-loving Filipino
people – we who have kept and held the torch of justice flaming even
during the darkest hours.
We call on our kababayans to help us continue this journey to achieve
justice. We call on the public, with the warrants of arrest issued against
Palparan et al, to join us in this public manhunt to ensure that he and
his cohorts be immediately arrested, put to jail and prosecuted for the
grave human rights violations they committed. We urge you to remain one
with us in demanding that Karen, Sherlyn and all victims of enforced
disappearances be surfaced.
We shall remain steadfast in our struggle for justice and realization of
human rights in the country, as we make all human rights violators,
including former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and top civil, military and
police officials accountable for their high crimes against the people.###
---------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central
District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org
KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human
rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual
advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and
civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights
violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training
and campaign.
x
Pahayag ni Raymond Manalo,
biktima ni Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan
December 20, 2011
Dapat maaresto na si Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan sa lalong madaling
panahon para sa pagdukot kina Karen Empeño at Sherlyn Cadapan, pati na si
Col. Felipe Anotado. Ayon sa mga balita,sumuko na si Master Sgt. Rizal
Hilario at Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio.Kailangan nang mahuli ang dalawa pang
akusado.
[Erratum: Ang sumuko ay sina Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado at Staff Sgt.
Edgardo Osorio. Si Master Sgt. Rizal Hilario ay at large pa rin gaya ni
Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan.]
Kung hindi dahil sa pagpupursigi ng mga nanay ni Karen at Sherlyn, at
pagkakaisa ng iba pang biktima tulad namin, hindi masasampahan ng kaso si
Palparan. Limang taon na ang nakaraan, ang tagal-tagal na naming ginigiit
ang hustisya. Nananawagan kami sa mamamayan na tumulong na hanapin si
Palparan para kaagad na siyang maaresto, makulong at mapanagot sa
napakarami niyang krimen at paglabag sa karapatang pantao Dapat ding
isakdal sa mga paglabag na ito ang mahigpit na kakutsaba ni Palparan,
sampu ng kanyang mga kasabwat na opisyal ng military at pulisya, si dating
Pang. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Iginigiit naming kailangan na ring maglabas na ng resolusyon ang Ombudsman
sa kasong isinampa para sa tortyur,iligal na detensyon at iba pang
paglabag sa karapatang pantao na dinanas naming magkapatid noong 2007,
gayundin ang mga kriminal at administratibong kasong isinampa ni Oscar
Leuterio noong 2006. Kaming dalawa ay kapwa mga testigo rin sa kasong
isinampa ng mga nanay ni Sherlyn at Karen sa DOJ nitong Mayo 2011. Ito ang
magdidiin at magpapatunay sa maraming kasalanan ni Palparan at mga tauhan
niya.
Sabi ni Palparan, may karapatan daw siyang mag-Pasko sa ibang bansa. Para
sa aming mga biktima, wala na kaming ibang hiling ngayong Pasko kundi
mag-Pasko sa kulungan si Palparan. Dapat niyang pagbayaran ang mga ginawa
niyang kasalanan sa amin. Dapat silang managot sa akin, sa amin,sa
sambayanang Pilipino. Kung pwede ngang ikulong siya sa bartolina para
maranasan niya kung gaano kahirap ang ginawa nila sa amin.
Hindi na naging “normal” ang buhay namin mula nang kami ay dukutin,
tortyurin at pahirapan ni Palparan at ng kanyang mga alipores.
Nagkawatak-watak ang aming mga pamilya, at laging tila nasa panganib ang
aming mga buhay. Di na kami makabalik sa normal naming buhay dahil sa
ginawa nila sa amin.
Patuloy naming babantayan ang kasong ito laban kay Palparan. Patuloy
kaming sisigaw ng hustisya para sa lahat ng biktima ni Palparan at ng
gobyernong Arroyo. Ikulong na si Palparan! Hustisya sa lahat ng biktima ng
paglabag sa karapatang pantao!
***
Si Raymond ang isa sa susing testigo sa kaso ng pagdukot kay Karen Empeño
at Sherlyn Cadapan, ang dalawang nawawalang estudyante ng UP na dinukot sa
Hagonoy, Bulacan noong June 26, 2006. Dinukot si Manalo noong Pebrero 14,
2007 sa kanilang bahay sa San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Pinatunayan niya sa
korte na sa mahigit isang taon, nakita, nakausap at nakasama niya sa iba’t
ibang kampo ng militar at safehouses ang dalawa, kung saan sila ay
pinahirapan at inabuso ng mga sundalo na nasa ilalim ng command ni Retired
Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan.
Nagsampa si Manalo ng kasong administratibo at kriminal sa Ombudsman
katulad ng kidnapping at torture at iba pa, laban kay Palparan at iba pang
opisyal ng militar noong 2008. Noong Ika-15 ng Disyembre, muling naghain
si Manalo at kanyang abogado ng ikalawang motion to resolve sa Ombudsman
para sa kaso laban kay Palparan.
For Reference and Interviews: Cristina Guevarra, Hustisya secretary
general 0949-1772928 and 434-2837
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Palparan's
Path: Trail of Blood, Child Victims
When he exits the military service this Sept. 11, Maj. Gen. Jovito
Palparan, Jr. leaves behind a long list of victims of human rights
violations in the areas where he was assigned. Based on his declarations
in various media interviews, he will perhaps even give a hearty laugh
should his record be described as a trail of blood. But his record speaks
for itself.
BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat Sept. 10, 2006
x
Press Statement
December 21, 2011
Reference: Jigs Clamor, Deputy Secretary General, 0920-9466210
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, 0918-9790580
Gov’t must use all its resources to find and
jail Palparan
“There is no other destination for Palparan but in jail. The government
should use all the resources at their disposal to find, arrest and jail
Palparan et al,” said Karapatan deputy secretary general, Jigs Clamor.
Palparan, who served as GMA’s henchman, was responsible for hundreds of
cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other human
rights violations. “Oddly, the butcher General invokes his “right to
travel” when he was offloaded in an aircraft bound to Singapore. The human
rights violator is now talking of rights. For years, the families of his
victims were deprived of a decent Christmas and other significant family
occasions when Palparan and his men took away their loved ones,” added
Clamor.
“Palparan must be immediately apprehended after the Bulacan Trial Court
issued a warrant of arrest yesterday. After Palparan’s failed attempt to
flee, the Court must issue a Hold Departure Order to prevent him from
leaving the country,” said Clamor.
On May 4, Connie Empeño and Linda Cadapan, mothers of the two missing
students, filed the criminal case against Palparan, with the support of
various rights and people’s organizations. “The two mothers had to
initiate the filing of the case because after almost a year of the Aquino
administration, P-Noy hasn’t lifted a finger on the cases against rights
violators. They could no longer wait. The Filipino people had to do it on
our own,” said Clamor.
The Cadapan-Empeño case against Palparan is among the cases filed against
rights violators under the GMA regime. Other cases include the P6-million
civil case filed by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)
against GMA; the motion to resolve the criminal and administrative cases
filed by torture survivors Raymond Manalo and Oscar Leuterio at the
Ombudsman; and the civil case filed by the “Morong 43” against GMA and her
security officials moral and exemplary damages
“GMA and Palparan’s barefaced acts give us more reason not to be
complacent. We will not stop in our quest for justice until Karen, Sherlyn
and other victims of enforced disappearance are surfaced and until
perpetrators are behind bars,” ended Clamor. ###
---------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central
District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org
KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human
rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual
advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and
civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights
violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training
and campaign.
Cristina Guevarra, Hustisya Secretary General, Jigs Clamor, KARAPATAN
Deputy Secretary General and, Cristina Palabay, Tanggol Bayi Spokesperson
ARREST BUTCHER-MAD DOG PALPARAN NOW – Tanggol
Bayi
“Retired Major General Jovito Palparan’s attempt to flee the country
clearly illustrates how he, like former Pres. Gloria Arroyo and other
notorious human rights violators, have tried to evade justice and
accountability, once again, for their crimes against the victims and the
people for the longest time during their reign in office. This mad dog
should immediately be arrested and put to jail.”
Thus stated Cristina Palabay, Tanggol Bayi spokesperson, after Palparan
reportedly tried to leave the country this morning after the Department of
Justice issued a resolution finding probable cause on the cases filed
against him, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, Master Sergeant Rizal Hilario and
Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio for two counts of kidnapping and serious
illegal detention of two missing UP students, Karen Empeno and Sherlyn
Cadapan in 2006. The DOJ released the resolution on December 15, 2011.
“We likewise demand for the change of venue of court proceedings hereon
from the Malolos Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) to an RTC in Metro
Manila because of security risks being faced by the complainants,
witnesses and lawyers in an area where the military has active presence
and where the abduction of the two women human rights defenders took
place,” Palabay added.
Aside from the above-mentioned charges, charges of rape, serious physical
injuries, maltreatment of prisoners, grave threats, and grave coercion
were filed against the perpetrators by the mothers of Sherlyn and Karen at
the DOJ last May 2011.
“We salute the resoluteness and courage of the mothers of Sherlyn and
Karen and the witnesses in pursuing this quest for justice. Their efforts
are among the crucial steps in ending impunity in the country. They have
actually taken one of the more decisive steps to do such, compared to the
inept attitude of Pres. Noynoy Aquino in prosecuting Arroyo and her
cohorts for crimes against the people,” Palabay concluded.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“We call on the Filipino people to help us prosecute Palparan for the
crimes he did to our children and to other victims of enforced
disappearances.” – Mrs. Concepcion Empeño, mother of missing UP student
Karen
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“He [Palparan] should be imprisoned immediately, along with GMA, Abalos,
all of them who are shameless. They all should spend Christmas in jail.” –
Mrs. Concepcion Empeño
=
==
x
Press Statement
21 December 2011
NUPL on Palparan’s being a fugitive from
justice
In light of Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan’s being a fugitive from
justice, his remarks to Judge Teodora Gonzales who issued the warrant of
arrest against him, and his criticisms on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima,
Atty. Edre Olalia said:
“Palparan is hopelessly incorrigible and his braggadocio is incomparable.
The highest military officer ever criminally indicted for human rights
violations is now spewing veiled threats versus the judge and venom versus
the justice secretary. He has done that to anyone who stands in his way.
He must now turn himself in to the authorities and stop being the coward
and heartless creature that he really is. He tried to sneak out of the
country while the whole nation was sadly riveted by a horrible calamity of
tragic proportions. He should face the music and leave the lawyering to
his counsels.”
Atty. Olalia is the Secretary General of the National Union of Peoples’
Lawyers (NUPL) and a member of the panel of private prosecutors in the
criminal case against Palparan involving the disappearance of UP students
Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan.
Reference: Atty. Edre U. Olalia, NUPL Secretary General, 09175113373
More than five years and five months after the disappearance of Karen
Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, the DOJ found probable cause to the charges
against Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, M/Sgt.
Rizal Hilario and Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio. Finally, Palparan and his
cohorts in the military will be tried in court for the crime of Kidnapping
and Serious Illegal Detention of the 2 UP students.
Holding Palparan for trial is long overdue amidst the several crimes he
perpetrated against activists and those who espouse dissent amidst
injustice. While this is just the start of a long and rigorous trial to
account Palparan for his crimes, this is a significant victory for human
rights defenders and a big step towards ensuring respect for human rights
in a country that has witnessed monstrous human rights violations in the
past decade.
At long last, justice has caught up with Gen. Palparan and his ilk. The
resolution sends a strong, clear and loud message to human rights
violators that they cannot just get away with their inhumane acts and that
there is no other place for them but behind bars. It should help abet the
longstanding climate of impunity, the offspring of the anti-insurgency
policy of the state that has no regard for human rights and the law.
We call for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and ask that the 2 UP
students and other victims of enforced disappearances be surfaced. We
shall continue to be determined to make other violators like former
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other top civil, military and police
officials accountable for their high crimes against the people.#
Reference: Atty. Edre U. Olalia, NUPL Secretary General (09175113373)
National Secretariat
National Union of Peoples' Lawyers(NUPL)
3F Erythrina Bldg., Maaralin corner Matatag Sts. Central District,Quezon
City, Philippines
Tel.No.920-6660,Telefax No. 927- 2812
Email addresses:nupl2007@gmail.com and nuplphilippines@yahoo.com
"Visit the NUPL at http://www.nupl.net/
As Jovito Palparan defied the authorities, the mothers of missing
students Sherlyn
Cadapan and Karen Empeño said Wednesday he should be man enough to face
charges in court and urged the public to provide tips on his
whereabouts.
x
News Release
December 19, 2011
References: Bayan Muna Reps. Teddy Casiño, 09209035683, Neri Colmenares
With Palparan’s foiled escape
Bayan Muna calls on RTC to immediately issue arrest warrant
Bayan Muna Reps. Teddy Casiño and Neri Colmenares, condemned the attempted
escape of the so-called “Butcher” former Maj.Gen. Jovito Palparan aboard a
SeaAir flight DG 7792 bound for Singapore. He was stopped by immigration
officials and told to disembark the plain.
“Palparan was obviously lying through his teeth when he said that he was
going to face the charges and now he tried to escape. The Malolos Regional
Trial Court should immediately issue an arrest warrant against Palparan
and throw him in jail right away,” said Casiño.
The Bureau of Immigration stopped retired General Jovito Palparan from
trying to leave the country today. Palparan and several others are facing
two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the abduction
of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno.
“Flight is a strong indication of guilt and he tried to do it on the day
that his case is to be raffled. It must also be noted that with this move
Palparan is following the footsteps of his patron Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
with their foiled escape,” added Colmenares.
“Palparan would of course try to worm his way out of this case but we must
be relentless. He should immediately be tried on the bar of justice,”
ended Casiño. # # #
REFERENCE: Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan national chairperson, 09174416739,
09224290258
The national youth group Anakbayan calls on the Dept. of Justice and other
relevant government institutions to immediately file charges and arrest
the notorious human rights violator, retired general Jovito Palparan. His
attempted flight aboard a 7.30 AM Singapore-bound plane is similar to
another escape attempt from justice, that of his patron former president
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
We echo the statement that 'flight is a sign of guilt', and the general's
attempted flight aboard a 7.30 AM Singapore-bound plane reminds us of a
similar act by another criminal: that of his patron, former president
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
For many Filipinos, there is no doubt that Palparan is guilty of the
abduction and torture of one of our members, Sherlyn Cadapan, and her
fellow University of the Philippines student and youth activist Karen
Empeno. The Dept. of Justice's announcement last week that they will file
charges against the general does not come as a surprise: we see it as one
step closer to finally having him pay for his crimes.
That is why we urge the government to immediately file charges and arrest
Palparan with the same speed as they did against Arroyo. It will be
unforgivable if ever Palparan escapes from the hands of justice. ###
--
Anakbayan Public Information Committee
Contact us at: anakbayan.media@gmail.com / +639175197758
Visit the Online Campaign center @ anakbayan.org
"Only through militant struggle can the best in the youth emerge"
Palparan terror tactics continue under the Aquino
regime
Communist Party of the Philippines
December 20, 2011
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the Filipino people's
revolutionary forces welcome the filing of charges against Gen. Jovito
Palparan and his cohorts Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario and
S/Sgt. Edgardo in connection with the abduction, illegal detention,
torture and disappearance of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan.
It cannot be denied, however, that the charges are long overdue, almost a
year and a half since the Aquino regime came to power. The Filipino people
are growing increasingly impatient over the absence of urgency in the
filing of criminal charges against General Palparan, Gloria Arroyo and her
key security and defense officials who masterminded the wave of
extrajudicial killings perpetrated under the Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL) war
of terror against the people.
Gen. Jovito Palparan and his fascist cohorts should be arrested and
detained with dispatch. Considering that General Palparan is being charged
for numerous high crimes and violations of human rights and humanitarian
law, his attempt to flee the country and evade trial and punishment comes
as no surprise.
Although the charges against General Palparan address one of the most
notorious crimes committed under the Arroyo regime, they represent only a
small fraction of the long list of brutalities which he and key officials
of the AFP and Arroyo regime should be held accountable for. Beyond the
specific criminal cases and violations of human rights, General Palparan,
Gloria Arroyo and her key officials should be charged as well for
wholesale violations of international humanitarian law and the rules of
war.
As commanding officer of the 204th Infantry Battalion in Mindoro
(2001-2003), the 8th ID in Samar (2005) and the 7th ID in Central Luzon
(2006), General Palparan led the fascist troops of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) in carrying out its OBL war against the people, imposing
a reign of terror in rural and urban communities, in a futile attempt to
stem the growth of the people's revolutionary resistance. Palparan's
notoriety as a brutal fascist is well summed-up in his monicker as "The
Butcher."
After receiving official commendation from then president Gloria Arroyo,
General Palparan's terror tactics against the people implemented in
Mindoro, Samar and Central Luzon have served as models for the campaign of
terror in Southern Mindanao, Panay, Bicol, Negros and other regions. To
this day, the AFP considers the terror tactics of General Palparan as the
exemplar in its Oplan Bayanihan war of suppression.
The Aquino regime condones the wholesale violation of human rights and
humanitarian law committed under OBL. Not once has Aquino castigated
General Palparan or the current leadership of the AFP and Philippine
National Police (PNP) who were key leaders and perpetrators of the crimes
committed under OBL.
Neither has Aquino repudiated the anti-people dogma of the OBL which
considers unarmed civilians suspected of participation in the
revolutionary cause as armed combatants and targets of the AFP's brutal
war. Aquino has thus emboldened the military and police to perpetuate
their terror tactics and violations of human rights in waging their Oplan
Bayanihan war to suppress the people's armed and mass resistance.
Under Oplan Bayanihan, General Palparan's tactics of terror continue to be
carried out by operating troops of the AFP in its so-called
civilian-military operations (CMO). Under Oplan Bayanihan, CMO is nothing
but a euphemism for population control tactics, where soldiers set up
detachments inside or beside school grounds, churches, day care centers,
barangay halls, chapels, residences and other centers of civilian
activity.
The AFP continues to implement General Palparan's guardia-civil tactics of
requiring people to present cedulas lest they be subjected to illegal
searches and accused of participation in the revolutionary movement. The
AFP imposes nightly curfews and restrictions on travel and controls the
entry of food and basic commodities. People are restricted from freely
engaging in economic activities, usually resulting in untended fields.
Fascist soldiers violate the people's domiciles, steal their farm animals
and engage in other anti-social activities disturbing the peace in rural
communities.
At its core, Aquino's Oplan Bayanihan is no different from Arroyo's Oplan
Bantay Laya. The Filipino people should demand justice for all the fascist
crimes committed under Arroyo even as they demand a stop to the war of
suppression being waged by the Aquino regime.
VIDEO and POEMS
Dalawang tula ni Alex Remollino
Kaygigiting Nila
Kina Karen Empeño at Sherlyn Cadapan, mga estudyante ng Unibersidad ng
Pilipinas (UP) na dinukot ng mga sundalo noong Hunyo 26 at hanggang
ngayo'y nawawala
Walang makapagtuturo kung nasaan kayo ngayon
liban sa mga kamay na dumukot sa inyo
isang madaling-araw sa isang dampa sa Bulacan.
Tiyak na makapagbibigay ng palatandaan ang mga kamay na iyon
kung kayo ba'y iniharap nila sa kung sinong nakatataas
bilang katibayan ng kanilang kagitingan sa larangan.
Hindi namin matiyak
kung kayo ba'y humihinga pa o mga bangkay na.
Ang natitiyak namin ay ito:
na ang mga dumukot sa inyo ay sakdal ng katapangan.
Pinasok nilang pilit ang dampang tinuluyan ninyo
habang kayo'y matutulog,
at sa inyong paggising ay mga nakatutok na bunganga ng baril
ang bumati sa inyo.
Kaytatapang nila,
kasintatapang sila ng mga pulis sa Mendiola
na walang kayang batutain
kundi ang mga hindi lumalaban sa kanila,
at inaatrasan
ang mga nagtatapat ng hampas sa hampas.
Kaytatapang ng mga pulis sa Mendiola.
Kaytatapang ng mga dumukot sa inyo.
Kaygigiting nila,
nilang tagapagtanggol ng mga mamamayan
na marapat saluduhan
at sabitan ng mga medalya.
2006, Hulyo 28
----------------------
Kung
Ano ang Katuturan ng Kagitingan
Dati nang nasabitan ng Medalya ng Kagitingan
si Jovito Palparan, Jr.
Hindi raw magiging heneral si Palparan
kung hindi isang "tunay na lalaki,"
ayon sa dating heneral na si Eduardo Ermita --
na ang pagpapakahulugan sa pagiging isang "tunay na lalaki"
ay pagiging isang huwaran ng katapangan.
Ano ang katuturan ng kagitingan?
Itanong natin sa mga paslit na Tausug
na pinagpapatay ng mga sundalo sa Sulu
upang, diumano,
huwag nang makasapi pa sa "rebeldeng" mga Moro.
Itanong natin kay Marcelo Fakila,
ulama sa isang baryo sa Sagada --
dinukot at pinahirapan ng mga sundalo.
Itanong natin sa lilimahing taong gulang na batang
pinaslang sa Laguna;
at kay Niña Angela Apolinar,
walong taong gulang,
na ginapos sa mga kamay
bago kinitlan ng buhay sa Oriental Mindoro.
Itanong natin kay Marvin Montabon,
binaril at sinilaban isang madaling-araw
sa sariling tahanan.
Itanong natin kina Karen Empeño at Sherlyn Cadapan:
sinugod sa dampang tinuluyan habang natutulog,
binati sa paggising ng nakatutok na mga baril,
piniringan -- at sariling kamisetang hinubad kay Karen
ang ipinampiring sa kanya --
binitbit at hindi ilitaw ng mga sundalo.
Itanong natin sa mga Expedito at Manuela Albarillo,
sa mga Choy Napoles, Eden Marcellana, Eddie Gumanoy,
Felidito Dacut, at Orlando Rivera --
mga walang sandata, pawang pinagbabaril hanggang mamatay.
Sila ang makapagsasabi
kung kagitingan nga bang maituturing
ang manakit ng mga di-makalaban,
ang pumatay ng mga di-makapagtanggol ng sariling buhay
laban sa mga baril.
