Top 15 People Who May “Get Away With Murder” Under President Aquino’s Term

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Palparan, dubbed ‘the butcher’ by human rights workers, was arrested last August 12, 2014. He went on hiding for three years due to an arrest warrant issued against him for the abduction of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño. Palpa

Since 2003, human rights workers were able to document hundreds of killings and torture of activists and supporters of people’s campaigns and organizations and displacement and peasant communities where he was assigned in different regions in Luzon and Visayas. He was among the most notorious generals who implemented the counterinsurgency plans Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and 2 during the presidency of Gloria Arroyo.

And now, a year after his arrest, no indictment or prosecution has been made. Palparan was also allowed detention in a military facility, which many chide as no detention at all for a military general.

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Among PNoy’s prominent campaign promises and mantras is that of the prosecution to former President Gloria Arroyo crimes against the people – plunder, human rights abuses, electoral fraud among others. Aquino would go as far as saying that he could not forgive those who trespassed the rights of the people, even if the people themselves would forget. Arroyo would also play as the frequent and constant scapegoat of Aquino for issues, problems and criticisms hurled at him.

But despite all these, cases against Arroyo have not proceeded beyond the hospital arrest, which she was accorded from the beginning. This year also saw more furloughs granted to Arroyo, including the December holidays.

Baladad was involved in the abduction of 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal. Baladad, along with other military and police officials, is facing charges of torture and other criminal and administrative cases filed by the healthworkers. In 2013, Baladad was promoted by Aquino to brigadier general and commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Western Visayas. He was promoted again by Aquino to lieutenant general in 2014 and was assigned to head the Eastern Mindanao Command where his watch was fraught with terror among Lumad communities. He also headed ‘Task Force Minion’, a group formed by the AFP to capture leaders of New People’s Army and one of the generals implicated for the death of ailing NPA Commander Leoncio ‘Ka Parago’ Pitao.

Visaya is the acting commander of the 4^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (IDPA). He is among the trained generals under Gen. Jovito Palparan. Human rights activists recorded a rise of human rights abuses in the areas covered by 4^th IDPA. Before he was assigned to 4^th IDPA, he is the army battalion commander of the 69^th Infantry Battalion in Central Luzon involved in Hacienda Luisita massacre where seven of the hacienda’s farmworkers were killed during the farmers’ strike in November 2004.

Human rights group Karapatan notes of Visaya’s record:

– The abduction and torture of farmers Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo on February 14, 2006, where elements of the 69th IB-PA, headed by Visaya, are directly involved.

– The massive deployment of soldiers under Visaya’s Civil Military Operation (CMO) Battalion in Metro Manila communities from February to September 2007 that resulted to numerous cases of threats, harassment and intimidation especially among members and leaders of progressive organizations;

– Threats, harassment and intimidation of DOLE Philippines’ farm workers during their union election in February 2011;

– Encampment and use of barangay halls, day care centers, chapels, and other civilian facility by troops under 901st IBPA in villages in Albay. Visaya tried to justify the killing and beheading of Albay village councilor Ely Oguis in November 2012 by accusing Oguis as tax collector of the New People’s Army (NPA).

DILG secretary Mar Roxas replied ‘You must understand that the President is an Aquino and you are a Romualdez’ to a query about the promptness of relief and rescue to Eastern Visayas during the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda in 2013. To most who were able to watch the surreptitiously-taken video, Roxas meant Tacloban residents cannot expect immediate relief for the thousands who died and starving in their area.

Mar Roxas, being the DILG secretary, is the Vice Chairperson for Disaster Preparedness was criticized for being the ill-preparedness of the government. According to members of People Surge, Roxas was in Tacloban City but went back to Manila, a day before the storm. After the typhoon, he was also there to campaign for the No-Build zone policy, which displaced thousands of Yolanda victims.

The government data of 6,000 death toll was believed to be much lesser than the actual number of deaths. Some believed that the criminal neglect of the government led to somewhat to a genocidal situation.

Relief goods and immediate aid for the victims of typhoon Yolanda go straight to DSWD for distribution but unfortunately, not all goods went straight to the victims. Most were kept in storage houses until it was spoiled. Commission on Audit recently revealed P2-million worth of relief goods were lost due to improper handling. There were also P69-million worth of bottled water, which were not distributed to Tacloban. Yolanda survivors belied DSWD claims that financial aids were released to them. COA reported P1.85 billion cash donations waiting to be dispensed to the victims.

These aids could have helped survivors rebuild homes and livelihood after typhoon Yolanda struck Visayas region but failed to reach those who are in need.

Traffic is not fatal, said Joseph Emilio Abaya, secretary of Department of Transportation and Communications last August 18, 2015. But according to Lifeline Rescue Philippines, 6 out of 10 of their patients died because they cannot pass through the traffic.

Also, the hazardous conditions of the train systems, perpetrated by profit-oriented and party-biased management of affairs, post risks to the lives of millions of Filipino who ride the trains daily.

Purisima, SAF Director Getuliio Napeñas, President Aquino and US troops clandestinely planned Oplan Exodus. As reported, no adequate coordination with the PNP, AFP and the MILF were made.

SAF troops attacked Mamasapano, Maguindanao, a known MILF-controlled community without coordinating with the leaders of MILF and AFP deployed near the area. The ecounter resulted to the death of 44 SAF troops, 18 MILF and 7 civilians.

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No charges were filed against the murderers of 9 SAF troops who were killed last January 25, 2015. According to DOJ report, no witnesses can identify the suspects of the carnage. The department also dismissed the case filed against PO2 Christopher Lalan, lone survivor of the Mamasapano encounter, after being accused of killing civilians in a mosque in Bgy. Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Napeñas, Purisima and President Aquino regularly briefed on Oplan Exodus. But despite top-secret planning of the operation, Director Napeñas and Purisima failed to send reinforcements and make adequate coordination among AFP camps and MILF. These led to a carnage: the death of 44 SAF troops, 18 MILF and 7 civilians.

Last December 1, 2015, the Olongapo Regional Trial Court found United States Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton guilty for the death of a Filipina transgender, Jennifer Laude last October, 2014. But instead of murder, the court convicted him of homicide and would serve 6 to 12 years in prison. Pemberton was imprisoned in Camp Aguinaldo where the government even constructed him his personal cell, instead of Bilibid as the court ordered.

Major General Jorge Segovia, former commander of the 2nd Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army, was promoted to lieutenant-general by Aquino in 2013. He assumed the post of commanding officer of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) in 2014. During his time, more than 10,000 people from 50 communities in four provinces were displaced by military encampments, census, curfews and limiting of civilians’ movements. Segovia began his EastMincom stint as head of the 10th ID from 2010 to 2012. Segovia was also involved in the arrest and torture of the 43 health workers.

Iriberri headed the 503^rd brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) implicated for the series of bombings in communities in Lat-ey, Malibcong, the desecration of members of New People’s Army in Tineg, Ligiw massacre in Sitio Sucao, Domenglay and murder of civilians – Engineer Fidela Salvador and Noel Viste. Despite cases of human rights abuses under his watch, Aquino promoted him Chief of Staff of the AFP.

Año, a former intelligence spy, is the current commanding general of the Philippine Army and among the perpetrators of the continuing militarization in Mindanao. As of today, 87 Lumad schools were attacked, 40,000 Lumad and peasants evacuate their ancestral domains, 144 leaders and human rights activists were killed. He is also involved in the abduction of Jonas Burgos and the illegal detention of 43 health workers.

For the Mamasapano Encounter, the Lumad killings in Mindanao, the persecution of activists and known supporters of progressive organizations, criminal negligence on Typhoon Yolanda victims and victims of other calamities. Aquino is responsible for the deaths and bloodshed in urban and peasant communities in demolitions issued in the name of his major economic program Public Private Partnership. He is also the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP, holding him accountable for all the human rights abuses done by the AFP and in the implementation of Oplan Bayanihan.

Will the crimes above be punished? Or more importantly, will justice be served to the victims and to the Filipino people?