Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE 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:

 Ang Bagong Bayani – OFW Labor Party vs. Ang Bagong Bayani – OFW Labor Party Go! Go!  
1

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
3
 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

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

7
 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 party­
list 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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 ANNEX “B”

Villagers want TRO on mining firm lifted
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
http://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 firm
http://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 1989
o 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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