Monday, February 26, 2007

Palparan belongs behind bars, not in Congress; Bataan residents should think a thousand times before even considering electing Norberto Gonzales

Monday, February 26, 2007

Palparan belongs behind bars, not in Congress; Bataan residents should think a thousand times before even considering electing Norberto Gonzales – Anakpawis solons

"If Jovito Palparan ran for a position in hell, he'd win and take over; but if he's hell-bent on running for public office, then we must all do our best to make sure he doesn't win. Palparan's black brand of politics and twisted understanding of what it means to defend democracy, however, make him an ideal candidate of the Arroyo administration. In any case, Palparan's bid for elective office should be nipped in the bud. A serial killer and mastermind of massacres should not be allowed to run even for barangay chairman. He belongs behind bars, not in congress."

This was Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran's comment regarding reports that Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon is putting up a fan club and encouraging Palparan to run under the party-list system.

"Which group will Palparan represent? ANAD? Or national security adviser Norberto Gonzales' Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP)? Palparan is a cold-blooded killer, and what other platform can he carry but that of death? Esperon's endorsement of Palparan is an endorsement of the continuing spate of extrajudicial killings and the general deterioration of the human rights situation in the country," Beltran said.

"Esperon has the gall to recommend Palparan to run for public office even in the midst of the outrage over the extrajudicial killings. He only affirms the AFP's full support for the killings and the continuing attacks against the members and leaders of the progressive party-lists, human rights advocates and members of militant people's organizations. Esperon is a hypocrite and a liar by saying that he and the AFP are non-partisan – here he is, practically the president of the Jovito Palparan fan club and goading the killer to run," he said.

In the meantime, fellow Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano said that Norberto Gonzales' plans to also run for a congressional seat in Bataan should also be thwarted. "Gonzales is a political wanna-be. He has made a name and reputation for himself as a war mongerer and an advocate of state repression of civil and democratic rights. The residents of Bataan would do good to think a hundred times over before they even consider putting his name on the ballot."

"If there are dream tandems, then Gonzales and Palparan as running mates under the Macapagal-Arroyo slate consists of a nightmare team," Mariano said.

"Instead of pushing for legislation that will benefit the poor and working people, these Palparan and Gonzales will most likely focus on blocking all of the measures the lawmakers of the progressive party-lists will be campaigning for," he concluded.

The two lawmakers of Anakpawis demanded that Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo put an end to the political ambitions of both of her henchmen. "Have they no shame? The international community is giving its full attention to the worsening human rights situation in the Philippines and the extrajudicial killings, the least Macapagal-Arroyo can do is to collar these two notorious human rights violators. "#

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