Human rights activists said that former military General Jovito Palpatan is the country’s icon of “military brutality and state fascism.”
The military has blamed the bomb explosion on Tuesday in Cotabato City to the terror group, Jema’ah Islamiyah, saying that fragments of the bomb were similar to the signature bomb maker of the group currently believed coddled by a breakaway Moro revolutionary group.
Moro advocates are wary that the Aquino administration is watering down provisions regarding Moro autonomy in the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL)–and being secretive about it.
Militant partylist representatives and Catholic Church leaders vowed they will block moves by allies of President Benigno Aquino III at the Lower House who are seeking Constitutional amendments.
Five civilians were hurt when a bomb exploded Tuesday evening in Cotabato City, a witness said.
Rights advocates called it a double standard when local officials slammed a Manila-based comedian for joking in public that Davaoenas were “hipon (shrimps).”
Branding it “a fight for greater accountability and transparency from our government leaders”, various church-based groups supported for a “people’s initiative” seeking for the total abolition of pork barrel system.
Congress could regain its dignity should the impeachment process versus President Benigno Aquino III run its course, a partylist lawmaker said.
As Palparan now faces trial for kidnapping and serious detention, more cases such as those in Mindanao would show how his bloody legacy in Luzon has also cast a long shadow in the country.
With the capture of Retired Major General Jovito Palparan in Manila early morning yesterday, human rights group Karapatan warns of three “wannabees” who “are either Palparan-trained or employ his style in extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.”
