Gen. Palparan eager to finish his peace mission in Samar

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 3, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  General Jovito Palparan expressed his willingness to come back to Region 8 to be able to finish his mission for a lasting peace in the conflict stricken areas of the Region.

In an exclusive communication with PIA 8 on New Year’s eve, General Palparan admitted that there are some sectors who are working out for his return to the Region. Although, he thinks that the possibility is remote, as a good soldier, he said that he will go anywhere his superiors would assign him.

He bared that he would love to go back to Eastern Visayas because it is his home Region and because he believes that he still has unfinished commitment in the Region.

General Palparan who is known to those close to him as a soft-spoken gentleman of the military whose commitment to his duty and rule of law, is first and foremost, admitted that he would love coming back to Region 8 in order to really eradicate insurgency in the area which he believes is the hindrance to real development of the area.

General Palparan is a native of Southern Leyte. He took over as chief of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Catbalogan, Samar in February 2005. Upon his taking over of the post, he boldly announced that he would crush the Region’s insurgency problem within the period of six months to one year.

This gave him the picture of a no-nonsense military leader and at the same time earned him many detractors especially those who will be crushed by his commitment to duty.

His stint in the Region was short-lived when four months ago, he was reassigned to Central Luzon. Under his command, the military intensified its operations against the new People’s Army, which some human rights and some cause-oriented groups blamed for the massive evacuation of residents in the hinterland villages of Samar, harassment and intimidation of militant groups.

At least five militant leaders in the Region have been killed and several others were seriously injured by unidentified assailants since March of 2005. All the unresolved killings and foiled slay attempts were blamed by the militant groups on the military.

To date, General Palparan remained firm in denying the allegations. He reiterated his strong denial on the allegations that he did not respect human rights and that he was responsible for the spate of killings mentioned.

As early as the middle part of December, reports coming from several sectors in the Region have it that General Jovito Palparan will be reassigned to Region 8.

Be it as it may, it is the wish of every citizen of Eastern Visayas, that lasting peace will be reached and will prevail in the Region. This only becomes possible with strong will and commitment.