Republic of the PhilippinesHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL

Quezon City

DR. REYNALDO LESACA, JR.,CRISTINA PALABAY, RENATO M. REYES, JR.,ERLINDA CADAPAN,ANTONIO FLORES,JOSELITO USTAREZ

Petitioners, HRET CASE NO.

________ - versus - FOR: Quo Warranto

MAJOR GEN. JOVITO S. PALPARAN, JR. (Ret.), Respondent.

x------------------------------------------------------------x

“However, it is not enough for the candidate to claim representation of the marginalized and underrepresented, because it is easy to claim and feign. The party-list organization or party must factually and truly represent the marginalized and underrepresented constituencies mentioned in Section 5. Concurrently, the persons nominated by the party-list candidate-organization must be “Filipino citizens belonging to marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organization, or parties.”1

PETITION FOR QUO WARRANTO

PETITIONERS, by themselves unto this Honorable Tribunal, respectfully state:

1 Ang Bagong Bayani – OFW Labor Party vs. Ang Bagong Bayani – OFW Labor Party Go! Go!  Philippines, et al., G.R. No. 147589, 26 June 2001.

THE PARTIES

1. The Petitioners are Filipino citizens, residents of the

Philippines, and are named below:

1.1 PETITIONER DR. REYNALDO LESACA, JR., is

of legal age, Filipino, a registered voter, and

the Chairperson of Bayan Muna, a political

party registered with the COMELEC under the

party-list system pursuant to the provisions of

Republic Act No. 7941 (Party-List Act). He may

be served with this Honorable Tribunal’s

processes and orders at 45 K-7 Street, West

Kamias, Quezon City.

1.2 PETITIONER CRISTINA PALABAY is of legal

age, Filipino, a registered voter, and the

Secretary General of the Gabriela Women’s

Party. She may be served with this Honorable

Tribunal’s processes and orders at SW-309

House of Representatives, Batasan Complex,

Constitution Hills, Quezon City.

1.3 PETITIONER RENATO M. REYES, JR., is of

legal age, Filipino, a registered voter, and the

Secretary General of the Bagong Alyansang

Makabayan (BAYAN). He may be served with

this Honorable Commission’s processes and

orders at Erythrina Bldg., No. 1 Matatag cor.

Maaralin Streets, Central District Quezon City.

1.4 PETITIONER ERLINDA CADAPAN is of legal

age, Filipino, a registered voter, and a founding

2

member of HUSTISYA, an organization of the

families of victims of extra-judicial killings and

enforced disappearances during the

administration of President Gloria Macapagal-

Arroyo. She may be served with this Honorable

Tribunal’s processes and orders at Erythrina

Bldg., No. 1 Matatag cor. Maaralin Streets,

Central District Quezon City.

1.5 PETITIONER ANTONIO FLORES is of legal

age, Filipino, a registered voter, and a member

of the National Executive Committee of

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and

ANAKPAWIS Party. He may be served with this

Honorable Tribunal’s processes and orders at

161-B Chico St., Project 2, Quezon City.

1.6 PETITIONER JOSELITO USTAREZ is of legal

age, Filipino, a registered voter, and the

President of NAFLU-KMU and an officer of

ANAKPAWIS Party. He may be served with this

Honorable Tribunal’s processes and orders at

63 Narra Street, Barangay Claro, Project 3,

Quezon City.

2. Respondent JOVITO S. PALPARAN, JR., is the First

Nominee of Bantay Party-List who took an oath of office as

the representative of the said party-list in the House of

Representative after Bantay was proclaimed a winner

during the 2007 party-list elections, and entitled to one

seat in Congress, pursuant to the recent ruling of the

Honorable Supreme Court in the case of Banat vs.

COMELEC [G.R. No. 179271, 21 April 2009]. He may be

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served with this Honorable Tribunal’s processes and orders

at the Office of the Secretary General, House of

Representatives, Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

NATURE OF THE PETITION

3. This is a verified Petition for quo warranto contesting the

assumption of retired Major General Jovito S. Palparan, Jr.

as representative of the party-list Bantay in the House of

Representatives on the ground of ineligibility. It is being

filed in accordance with the provisions of Rule 17 of the

2004 Rules of the House of Representatives Electoral

Tribunal.

CAUSES OF ACTION

I

RESPONDENT JOVITO S. PALPARAN, JR., A RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL, IS INELIGIBLE TO BECOME A PARTY LIST NOMINEE AND REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE HE DOES NOT BELONG TO THE MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED SECTORS BANTAY PURPORTS TO REPRESENT. RESPONDENT ALSO COMMITTED GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED SECTORS AND ORGANIZATIONS.

4

4. In several news reports, respondent Jovito Palparan has

been quoted as saying that his Bantay Party-List

purportedly represents victims of communist rebels,

Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs), former

rebels and security guards.

5. From respondent Palparan’s own admission, Bantay, which

he seeks to represent in the House of Representatives, is a

party-list that will supposedly represent the following

sectors, namely, (1) victims of communist rebels, (2)

Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs), (3)

former rebels and (4) security guards.

6. Section 9 of R.A. 7941, or the Party-List Law provides that:

“Sec. 9. Qualification of Party-List Nominees. - No person shall be nominated as party-list representative unless he is a natural born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, a resident of the Philippines for a period of not less than one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election, able to read and write, bona fide member of the party or organization which he seeks to represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding the day of the election, and is at least twenty-five (25) years of age on the day of the election.” [Emphasis supplied]

7. Relevantly, the Honorable Supreme Court, in the case of

Ang Bagong Bayani – OFW Labor Party vs. Ang Bagong Bayani – 

OFW Labor  Party  Go!  Go!  Philippines,  et  al.,  has defined the

qualification of a party-list nominee as above-quoted, and

which is reiterated hereunder, thus:

““However, it is not enough for the candidate to claim representation of the marginalized and underrepresented, because it is easy to claim and feign. The party-list organization or party must factually and truly represent the marginalized and underrepresented constituencies mentioned in

5

Section 5. Concurrently, the persons nominated by the party-list candidate-organization must be “Filipino citizens belonging to marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organization, or parties.” [Emphasis supplied]

8. In the same case, the Honorable Supreme Court came out

with the “Guidelines in Screening Party-List Participants”,

number seven of which states that:

“Seventh, not only the candidate party or organization must represent marginalized and underrepresented sectors; so also must its nominees. To repeat, under Section 2 of RA 7941, the nominees must be Filipino citizens “who belong to marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organizations and parties.” Surely, the interests of the youth cannot be fully represented by a retiree; neither can those of the urban poor or the working class, by an industrialist. To allow otherwise is to betray the State policy to give genuine representation to the marginalized and underrepresented.”

9. The Honorable Supreme Court, in the recent case of Banat

vs. COMELEC [G.R. No. 179271, 21 April 2009], has

reiterated the above-described qualification of a party-list

representative, thus:

“Under Section 9 of R.A. No. 7941, it is not necessary that the party-list organization’s nominee “wallow in poverty, destitution and infirmity” as there is no financial status required in the law. It is enough that the nominee of the sectoral party/organization/coalition belongs to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, that is, if the nominee represents the fisherfolk, he or she must be a fisherfolk, or if the nominee represents the senior citizens, he or she must be a senior citizen.”[Emphasis supplied]

6

10. Verily, the Honorable Supreme Court could not be clearer

as to the qualification of a party-list nominee, that is,

he/she must belong to the marginalized and

underrepresented sector he/she claims to represent.

11. In this wise, it must be emphasized that respondent

Jovito S. Palparan, Jr., does not belong to the alleged

marginalized and underrepresented sectors that he

publicly pronounced to represent.

12. Respondent Jovito Palparan, Jr. is not an alleged victim of

communist rebels, and neither is he a former rebel.

13. Furthermore, respondent is definitely not a security guard.

In fact, several news reports indicate that he is a co-owner

of the 24-Hour Security Agency, which figured in two

mining disputes in the provinces of Bulacan and Zambales

last year. As an owner of a security agency he certainly

cannot claim to belong to underrepresented sector of

private security guards.

14. Significantly, the Honorable Tribunal may well take judicial

notice that members of the Civilian Armed Forces

Geographical Unit (CAFGU) cannot participate in the party-

list elections, it being a government-funded entity,

pursuant to the “Guidelines for Screening

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Participants” enunciated by the Honorable Supreme

Court in the Bagong Bayani case, to wit:

“Fifth , the party or organization must not be an adjunct of, or a project organized or an entity funded or assisted by, the government. By the very nature of the party-list system, the party or organization must be a group of citizens, organized by citizens and operated by citizens. It must be independent of the government. The participation of the government or its officials in the affairs of a party-list candidate is not only illegal and unfair to other parties, but also deleterious to the objective of the law: to enable citizens belonging to marginalized and underrepresented sectors and organizations to be elected to the House of Representatives.”[Emphasis supplied]

15. Far from belonging to a marginalized and underrepresented

sector, respondent Jovito Palparan, Jr. is a “man of power”,

and in fact, he continues to wield power even after his

retirement from military service with the rank of Major

General.

16. The truth is respondent Jovito Palparan, Jr. was never a

marginalized individual, but for practically more than half of

his life, he has wielded power by virtue of his being a high-

ranking officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, for

which he has been accused, and widely believe to have

committed, a plethora of human rights violations, including

the extrajudicial killings of legal activists.

17. The Honorable Tribunal may consider the following military

career of respondent Jovito Palparan, Jr. 2, thus:2 http://www.gmanews.tv/story/31867/Jovito­S­Palparan­Jr

8

(1)Commanding General, 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army (September 21, 2005-September 11, 2006)

(2)Commanding General, 8th Infantry Division, Catbalogan, Samar (2005)

(3)Chief of Staff, Philippine Army(4) Commander, Philippine Humanitarian Contingent in

Iraq (5) Brigade Commander, 204th Brigade, Mindoro and

Romblon(6) Commander, Task Force Banahaw, CALABARZON(7)Commanding Officer, Doctrine Center(8) Commander, AFP Rapid Deployment Force(9) Commander, 24th Infantry Battalion for 5 years(10)Lieutenant, served in Basilan and Sulu for eight years(11)Commissioned, called to active duty to the AFP in

1973

18. From the foregoing, there is no doubt that respondent

Jovito Palparan has always been a “man of power”, and not

one who belongs to a marginalized and underrepresented

sector.

19. At this juncture, it must be stressed, as the Honorable

Supreme Court has in several occasions stressed, that the

party-list system is a social justice tool designed to enable

the great masses of the Filipino people to become

lawmakers themselves through their representatives, who

comes from them, in order, among others, to give life to

the constitutional mandate of the right of the people and

their organizations to effective and reasonable participation

at all levels of social, political and economic decision-

making.

9

20. Contrary to this, respondent Jovito Palparan is publicly

known to have nothing but sheer contempt for the

organizations of the marginalized and underrepresented,

and for progressive individuals, which he has publicly

declared must be stopped in their advocacies at any cost.

21. Significantly, the Honorable Supreme Court, in the case of

Secretary of National Defense vs. Raymond and Reynaldo

Manalo [G.R. No. 180906, 7 October 2008], affirmed the

Court of Appeals ruling in C.A. G.R. Amparo No. 00001 [26

December 2007] that respondent Jovito Palparan was

“directly involved” in the abduction of farmer-brothers

Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo in Bulacan on suspicion of

being communist rebels, thus:

“We affirm the factual findings of the appellate court, largely based on respondent Raymond Manalo’s affidavit and testimony, viz:

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gen. Palparan’s participation in the abduction was also established. At the very least, he was aware of the petitioners’ captivity at the hands of men in uniform assigned to his command. In fact, he or any other officer tendered no controversion to the firm claim of Raymond that he (Gen. Palparan) met them in person in a safehouse in Bulacan and told them what he wanted them and their parents to do or not to be doing. Gen. Palparan’s direct and personal role in the abduction might not have been shown but his knowledge of the dire situation of the petitioners during their long captivity at the hands of military personnel under his command bespoke of his indubitable command policy that unavoidably encouraged and not merely tolerated the abduction of civilians without due process of law and without probable cause. [Emphasis supplied]

10

22.Indeed, allowing respondent Jovito Palparan’s nomination

as a representative of Bantay is tantamount to the

“bastardization” of the party-list system.

23.Again, how could a retired general of the Armed Forces of

the Philippines with a notorious human rights record

against the marginalized and underrepresented wherever

he was assigned represent the said marginalized and

underrepresented when he himself has repressed and

suppressed them?

II

RETIRED MILITARY GENERALS LIKE RESPONDENT JOVITO PALPARAN, AND THEIR POLICE COUNTERPARTS, ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PARTY-LIST NOMINEES AND REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BELONG TO, AND CANNOT REPRESENT THE MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED SECTORS OF PHILIPPINE SOCIETY.

24. It is respectfully submitted that retired military generals

like respondent Jovito Palparan, Jr., and their counterparts

in the police, cannot truly represent the marginalized and

underrepresented sectors of Philippine society.

25. There is no doubt that military generals, and their police

counterparts, are at the helm of power in Philippine society.

They wield enormous powers while they are in the service.

11

A great many of them are known to live in luxury and

comfort in exclusive villages and subdivisions.

26. In retirement, they continue to exercise power and

influence and wallow in privilege. They are even appointed

to top government positions. Consider the following

generals in the Arroyo government:

(1)Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita(2) Arturo Carillo, Military Affairs Adviser(3) Honesto Isleta, Presidential Assistant on Strategic

Information(4) Glenn Rabonza, Office of the Civil Defense Executive

Director and National Disaster Coordinating Council Administrator

(5) Angel Atutubo, Manila International Airport Authority Assistant General Manager

(6) Thelmo Cunanan, Chairman of the Social Security System

(7) Proceso Maligalig, Head of Bataan Shipyard(8) Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Public Works Secretary(9) Leandro Mendoza, Transportation and

Communications Secretary(10)Roberto Lastimoso, Director of Metro Rail Transit

Corp.(11)Angelo Reyes, Energy Secretary(12)Narciso Abaya, Chair of Bases Conversion

Development Authority(13)Dionisio Santiago, PDEA Director(14)Roy Cimatu, Special Envoy to Middle East(15)Efren Abu, Ambassador to Brunei-Indonesia-

Malaysia-Philippines-East Asia growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)

(16)Generoso Senga, Ambassador to Iran(17)Orlando Macaspac, Presidential Adviser for Police

Affairs(18)Florencio Fianza, Former Chairman of the Philippine

Racing Commission(19)Vidal Querol, Ambassador to Indonesia(20)Ernesto de Leon, Ambassador to Australia.

12

27. Respondent Jovito Palparan himself was reported to have

been offered various positions in government immediately

after his retirement from military service, but the public

uproar over his then impending appointment in

government office made the would-be appointing power

back out. However, as the furor died down, the appointing

power surreptitiously appointed respondent Jovito Palparan

as Director of Freeport Services Corp., a company of the

state-owned Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

28. We thus pose this question, “How can men and women of

power truly represent the powerless?” Indeed, how can one

who belongs to that privileged class of military officers that

has long taken political and economic power in Philippine

society represent the marginalized and underrepresented

sector?

29. Allowing retired military generals, and their police

counterparts, therefore to become nominees and

representative of party-list organizations would desecrate

the hallowed intent of the party-list provision of the

Constitution and violate the ruling of the Supreme Court in

the case of Bagong Bayani that the party list system is

reserved for the marginalized and underrepresented.

30. The Honorable Supreme Court, again the in the case of

Bagong Bayani, has clearly elucidated the import of the

party-list provision, that is Section 5 (2), Article VI of the

Constitution, thus:

13

“The intent of the Constitution is clear: to give genuine power to the people, not only by giving more law to those who have less in life, but more so by enabling them to become veritable lawmakers themselves. Consistent with this intent, the policy of the implementing law, we repeat, is likewise clear: “to enable Filipino citizens belonging to marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organizations and parties, x x x, to become members of the House of Representatives.” Where the language of the law is clear, it must be applied according to its express terms.

31. This being the case, military generals, and their police

counterparts, certainly cannot represent the marginalized

and underrepresented because they do not belong to the

these sectors of Philippine society, but as pointed earlier,

they wield enormous political and economic powers in

Philippine society while in military service and even after

their retirement.

32. Those who continue to belong to this privileged class

cannot make the hopes and dreams, the aspirations and

longings of the underprivileged their own. Unfortunately,

respondent Jovito Palparan belongs to this class. He

is therefore not qualified to become a nominee of

Bantay Party-List.

PRAYER

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Petitioners

respectfully pray that this Honorable Tribunal, after hearing,

disqualify respondent Jovito Palparan as a nominee of Bantay Party-

List.

14

Other forms of relief, just and equitable under the

circumstances are likewise prayed for.

Quezon City, 28 April 2009.

REYNALDO LESACA CRISTINA PALABAY Petitioner Petitioner

RENATO M. REYES ERLINDA CADAPAN Petitioner Petitioner

ANTONIO FLORES JOSELITO USTAREZ Petitioner Petitioner

Copy furnished:GEN. JOVITO PALPARAN (Ret.)

15

ANNEX “A”

Last update: April 23 2009, 11:56 PM INQUIRER HEADLINES ­ NATION

Palparan fitness for Congress questioned Tonette Orejas / Central Luzon Desk April 23, 2009 

MANILA, Philippines—The most prominent “leftist” in the House of Representatives would rather not be a seatmate of the “butcher.”

If he had his way, Bayan Muna party­list Rep. Satur Ocampo would not even let retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. take his seat.

Ocampo, a House minority leader, is readying legal actions to stop Palparan from assuming a seat in the House as representative of the party­list group Bantay.

Militants have taken to calling Palparan a “berdugo (butcher)” for the strings of alleged extrajudicial killings and other forms of human rights violations in Luzon and the Visayas where he was assigned until he retired in September 2006.

It’s possible that Ocampo and Palparan would be sitting next to each other because seats are alphabetically arranged in the House.

Despite the outcry from the Left, Palparan said he still preferred serving in the House to accepting his appointment as director of Freeport Services Corp., a company of the state­owned Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

“Of course, Congress,” Palparan said when asked what his choice was. “That has the people’s mandate. Bantay was voted to Congress.”

Bantay has “every right” to sit in Congress because it “represents marginalized sectors engaged in security and peace and order concerns,” he said.

“I have no fear of him. We (members of the so­called leftist bloc in Congress) sat side by side with the Marcoses. But I don’t want to imagine myself sitting beside him,” Ocampo said in a phone interview on Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court increased the numbers of party­list representatives to 55.

But having Ocampo as a seatmate and colleague in the House is “OK” with Palparan. “I’m not picky with people. If my enemies reform, I shall love them more,” he said.

Ocampo said he and his colleagues in Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela would question Palparan’s qualifications.

Ocampo has been Bayan Muna representative in the House since 2001. He is serving his last three­year term.

“What are they afraid of? These militants should be afraid of what they are doing. They’re engaged in violence,” Palparan said in a phone interview.

Constituents

16

Palparan said his sector includes “victims of communist rebels, Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs), former rebels, security guards and others of similar occupations.”

Asked about laws he would sponsor, the retired general said: “I would focus on the welfare and protection of those sectors, and improve their livelihood. The CAFGUs, for instance, live only on small allowance and they have no benefits but their work is risky.”

Palparan said he also planned to continue organizing a “counterinsurgency civilian force” throughout the country.

“There are such people. They are only working silently. If given the opportunities and capabilities this time, I would push for that. I have been organizing people to resist communist rebels,” he said.

On his human rights record, he said: “Nobody has proven I committed anything bad. Their apprehension is really within their minds. I can’t provide an answer to those apprehensions.”

“My entry in Congress will provide the answer [if their apprehensions have bases],” he added.

Security firm, dog

Asked if he would divest his interest in the company 24­Hour Security, which figured in two mining disputes in the provinces of Bulacan and Zambales last year, Palparan denied owning the firm.

Palparan expressed the hope that he can take along his dog Cloud, a Maltese, when reporting for office in the House.

“If it’s not prohibited, I would take her along. Cloud always tags along with me,” he said.

Not marginalized

In Baguio City, the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) said Palparan and his party­list group had no clear representation of marginalized sector.

Beverly Longid, CPA chair, said Palparan’s motive in forming Bantay was “not meant to represent the poor and marginalized sectors of society but to commit more human rights abuses against activists and left­leaning party­list groups.”

She said there should be a review of the antihuman rights programs of Bantay so Palparan’s representation could be opposed.

The Supreme Court disqualified in 2001 major political parties from participating in the party­list system because they did not represent marginalized and underrepresented sectors.

Man of power

“Palparan is not marginalized. He’s a man of power. He still exercises political influence,” Ocampo said.

Another reason Palparan should not be allowed to join Congress was the Supreme Court affirmation in 2008 of the Court of Appeals ruling that the retired general was “directly involved” in the abduction of farmer­brothers Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo in Bulacan on suspicion of being communist rebels, according to Ocampo. Palparan also drew fire from the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

Palace support

17

“Palparan is gloating over the fact that he gets to sit in Congress and terrorize the public anew. He owes his latest position to the support given by Malacañang and the AFP (military) for his congressional bid in 2007. Can there be any question as to where his loyalties lie now?” Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita expressed support for Palparan, saying he could help the House draft bills because of his long experience in counterinsurgency.

“He’ll be able to contribute a lot especially on possible laws on how to address our insurgency problem, including secessionist movement, and other activities that have something to do with breach of the law, security and peace and order,” Ermita said.

Wrong signal

The human rights group Karapatan, however, said Palparan could use the House as a venue for his anti­insurgency campaign.

Palparan as a sectoral representative “sends a wrong signal to perpetrators that they can continue committing human rights violations with impunity,” said Karapatan secretary general Marie Hilao­Enriquez in the statement. With reports from TJ Burgonio and Nikko Dizon in Manila; Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon ©2009 www.inquirer.net all rights reserved 

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18

ANNEX “B”

Villagers want TRO on mining firm liftedWednesday, August 20, 2008http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/aug/20/yehey/prov/20080820pro2.html 

DOÑA REMEDIOS TRINIDAD, Bulacan: Residents of Barangay Camachin, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan are calling on Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to lift the suspension order issued by the regional office preventing the legit operation of Ore Asia Mining and Development Corporation (OAMD) causing some 7,000 families jobless. 

Barangay Chairman Roberto Sembrano said Judge Rodolfo de Guzman of the Municipal Trial Court­Doña Remedios Trinidad had already issued a mandatory injunction and temporary restraining order for OAMD to reassume the mining operations from the Oro Development Corporation II allegedly financed by a certain Go Kong Ket alias “Willy Keng” and being guarded by a security agency owned by Retired General Jovito Palparan. 

Immediately after the said court order, Palparan directed his guards from the 24­hour Security Agency to withdraw from area. 

Despite the court order favoring OAMD, its mining operations remain paralyzed as a result of the suspension order of Region 3­Mines Geoscience Bureau Director Anselmo Abungan. 

“Kung patuloy pa nilang sususpendehin ang operasyon ng minahan ay para na nilang pinatay sa gutom ang mga residente, labag ito sa 10 point­agenda ni Pangulong Gloria Arroyo sa pamamagitan ng kanyang job creation program dahil marami ang maaring makinabang sa pamumulot ng bato”. Sembrano said.  

Recently, the affected families held a peaceful rally in front of the DENR building asking Atienza to lift the suspension order so that they can return to work. But their pleas went to naught. 

Palparan admitted that he ordered his men to withdraw from the premises because he could no longer bear with the way Keng treated the situation. 

In a press conference, Palparan said that he turned down Keng’s orders to burn the mining equipments saying “hindi na ito makatao at labag sa aking konsensya,” 

At the same time, Palparan warned mining financiers and DENR officials to be extra careful on Keng to avoid being used for his personal interest. ­­Jefferson Antiporda 

   

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ANNEX “C”

Palparan says Army general cleared soldiers who stormed mining firmhttp://www.malaya.com.ph/may03/metro4.htm 

RETIRED Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan yesterday said the deployment of 14 Army soldiers involved in the "takeover" of the Consolidated Mines Inc. compound in Masinloc, Zambales last April 29 was approved by 7th Infantry Division chief Brig. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, commander of the Army in Central Luzon.

He said Villanueva cleared the deployment at the request of Faith Investment House (FIH) which bought the mining firm CMI. He said this was according to FHI and the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Palparan said his security agency, 24-Hour Security Provider, had been hired by FIH to consolidate its property and that he only issued orders to his security guards and not to the soldiers. He said the soldiers were backups who were supposed to serve as blocking force outside the CMI compound while the CIDG flushed out the armed men inside who were "identified with a businessman with dealings with CMI or Zambales governor Amor Deloso."

He said the soldiers only entered the compound because they were open targets where they were.

Palparan said Deloso’s group later arrived and took custody of at least 10 armed men the CIDG had arrested. He said the governor asked his security guards to leave the compound but he refused. Later, he said two teams from the police and the Army assaulted the compound with clearance from Villanueva.

Reports later quoted Villanueva as saying that the 7th ID was deceived into deploying soldiers to accompany the group of Palparan in taking over the mining firm. The AFP last Wednesday ordered the soldiers involved in the assault restricted and investigated but admitted it no longer has jurisdiction over the retired Palparan.

Palparan said there is nothing irregular with soldiers acting as backup. He said he is willing to give a statement to Army investigators. "I did not commit any wrongdoing. But I think Gen. Villanueva, Col. (Philip) Lapinid (the battalion commander) and the provincial director (of the PNP) and the governor must be investigated also."

He said he feels the initial entry of the soldiers in the compound was legitimate but he wants their actions inside the compound investigated since what they assaulted was private property. – Victor Reyes

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ANNEX “D”

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/31867/Jovito­S­Palparan­Jr 

Jovito S. Palparan, Jr.02/23/2007 | 06:28 PM 

PERSONAL INFORMATION• Birthdate: September 11, 1950• Birthplace: Cagayan de Oro City• Wife: Ma. Evangelina Gamad Flores Palparan, dentist• Children: Macy, JC, Martin, Bullet, Claude

ISSUES • Alleged human rights violator. The International Peasant Solidarity Mission 

found that there are "clear indications of military involvement" in the cases of human rights violations in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog. The group's report noted that the military seems to have become more brazen (in committing the human rights violations) under the command of MGen. Jovito Palparan, Jr.. 

Malacañang came to Palparan's defense, saying that the international group's report linking the military to political killings is preposterous. In a press conference, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita praised Palparan as an effective component in the government's anti­insurgency campaign. 

• Campaign against communist insurgency. In his brief stint as 8th Infantry Division commander, Gen. Palparan was credited for reducing the insurgency problem in Samar by 80 percent. Palparan however said he could have terminated insurgency in the province had he been given a two­month extension to implement his "clearing operation". 

In April 2006, Palparan gave a five­month deadline to wipe out the communist insurgency in Central Luzon ­ his area of responsibility as 7th Infantry Division commander.The deadline coincides with his 56th birthday and date of retirement from the AFP. 

• In Malacañang's good graces. President Arroyo promoted Palparan twice: from colonel to brigadier general (2003); and from brigadier general to major general after serving as commander of the Philippine contingent in Iraq (2004). His promotion to major general came within months of his previous promotion. 

In her 2006 State of the Nation Address, President Arroyo acknowledged Palparan for his offensives against rebel terrorists. In the same breath she also said that she condemns political killings.

EDUCATION• Masters in National Security Administration, National Defense College of the 

Philippines (1999)• Masters in Management, Philippine Christian University

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• Joint Services and Staff Course, Canberra, Australia• Command and General Staff Course, Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila (with honors)• Infantry Officers Advanced Course, US Infantry School, Columbus, Georgia, 

USA• Field Officers Tactics III, Land Warfare Center, Canungra, Australia (excellent 

rating)• BS Business Administration, University of the East• Cathedral High School, Cagayan de Oro City

CAREER• Commanding General, 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army 

(September 21, 2005­September 11, 2006)• Commanding General, 8th Infantry Division, Catbalogan, Samar (2005)• Chief of Staff, Philippine Army• commander, Philippine Humanitarian Contingent in Iraq• brigade commander, 

204th Brigade, Mindoro and Romblon• commander, Task Force Banahaw, CALABARZON• Commanding Officer, Doctrine Center• commander, AFP Rapid Deployment Force• commander, 24th Infantry Battalion for 5 years• lieutenant, served in Basilan and Sulu for eight years• commissioned, called to active duty to the AFP in 1973

ACHIEVEMENTS(as claimed in his official biodata) 

• As company grade officer, his unit defeated the most notorious group of Moro National Liberation Front in Paticul, Sulu; this led to the surrender of rebel Hakim Sale a.k.a. Snake and 60 fully­armed fighters

• As commander of the 24th Infantry Battalion, his unit was instrumental in o clearing eight provinces in Central Luzon and Cordillera of insurgents; o preventing the launching of coup d' etat between 1987 and 1989o elimination/liquidation of the New People's Army / ABB in NCR, also 

between 1987 and 1989

AWARDS• Distinguished Service Stars

o Palparan received a distinguished service star in March 2006 for his service as commander of the 8th Infantry Division­­ the award was given amid persistent allegations from militant groups that he is a human rights violator. 

• Gold Cross Medal• Gawad sa Kaunlaran Medal• Bronze Cross Medals • Wounded Personnel Medals

o Palparan was wounded early on in his military career, during an encounter with the Moro National Liberation Front. 

• Military Merit Medals• Campaign Medals

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Sources: Official Biodata, Office of the President website, GMA News, Sunday Inquirer  Magazine, Newsbreak, INQ7, Arkibongbayan.org

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