Palparan elated by President’s ‘recognition’

MALOLOS CITY — "It was a morale booster for me and my men."

This was how Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, the controversial commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, described the "salute" given him by President Arroyo during her State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday.

In a phone interview with The STAR, Palparan said he is grateful to the President for recognizing his efforts to eradicate insurgency in Bulacan and the rest of Central Luzon.

When asked if he feels vindicated from the allegations of militant groups, he said the President’s statement was "plain recognition."

Since he took over the 7th ID headquartered at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija last September, Palparan has been the subject of verbal attacks from militant groups who have tagged him as the "butcher."

Militants in Bulacan, for instance, have blamed him for the series of abductions and extrajudicial killings of at least 14 activists in the province.

"I think it is very unfair to blame the general for these killings," said Capt. Wilfredo Martin, head of the 7th ID’s civil affairs unit.

Martin said the President herself "condemned the killings" in her SONA.

A Business Administration graduate from the University of the East, Palparan joined the Army after completing his advanced Reserve Officer Training Course.

He was later assigned to Sulu where he had his baptism of fire and was wounded in action. In the years that followed, Palparan was promoted to company commander.

Palparan also served as commander of Task Force Banahaw and later of the 204th Infantry Brigade based in Romblon and Mindoro.

He joined the Philippine humanitarian contingent in Iraq and worked as consultant to the American forces there.

Upon his return to the country, he was assigned as commander of the Samar-based 8th Infantry Division.