Archive for March 21st, 2007
Alston ‘blind, mute, deaf’ to evidence on killings — Ebdane
MANILA, Philippines — “Blind, mute, and deaf” was how Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. described a United Nations official who had linked the military to the spate of extrajudicial killings.
Like the international community, Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur, has declared the military “guilty until proven otherwise,” Ebdane told reporters Wednesday.
Ebdane issued the statement when asked to comment on a Commission on Human Rights (CHR) report that had cleared retired Major General Jovito Palparan and his men over the killings of leftist activists in Central Luzon.
The defense chief said that he had not read the report.
Ebdane said that even if Alston were to be told that two alleged victims of extrajudicial killings listed by the human rights’ group Karapatan were alive, he would still ignore this.
“Ayaw pansinin ni Alston yun. Pagka ganun ang pinapabigay mo kay Alston, ano siya, bulag, pipi, bingi. Wala tayong magagawa. [Alston won't pay attention. He is blind, mute, and deaf. We can't do anything about that.]“
And to stress his point, Ebdane covered his eyes, mouth, and ears, as he quoted the lyrics from a song popularized by Freddie Aguilar, “Bulag, Pipi, at Bingi [Blind, Mute, Deaf].”
“The international outlook has changed. Now, a person is declared guilty until proven otherwise,” Ebdane added.
International criticism over the killings has increased. In late February, after a 10-day investigation, Alston said the military was in a “state of denial” over the spate of political killings.
At a US congressional hearing last week, assistant deputy secretary of state Eric John said the Philippine government was not doing enough to stop the murders.
Meanwhile, Ernesto Carolina defense undersecretary and department spokesman, said the CHR report “vindicates” Palparan and showed that leftist militants’ “propaganda did not pay off.”
“We never doubted General Palparan. Has he not retired, he would still be serving now in the same area,” Carolina said.
Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro, military spokesman, agreed with Carolina, saying the allegations against Palparan were mere “machinations of some interest groups.”
Allegations of human rights abuse followed Palparan on his every assignment, from Mindoro Island, to Eastern Visayas, to his last post as commander of the 7th Infantry Division based in Central Luzon.
Palparan has denied the allegations. In a recent interview with reporters, he said he preferred “scaring” left-wing activists and supporters to killing them.
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
Canada donates 300 nuke, biochem protection suits
MANILA, Philippines — The Canadian government donated 300 protective suits against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) attacks worth Canadian $274,000 to Philippine security forces on Wednesday.
While there is no imminent threat of such attacks, Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the recent nuclear tests in North Korea and Pakistan should serve as a “wake-up call to other countries to prepare for such eventualities.”
Ebdane signed a memorandum of agreement with Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Sutherland for the turnover of the protective suits during ceremonies in Camp Aguinaldo.
Sutherland said Canadian authorities would train Filipino soldiers, policemen from the elite Special Action Force (SAF) and firefighters on the use of the CBRN equipment.
“It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it,” Ebdane said.
“It’s ironic, we are turning this over to you but we sincerely hope you never have to use it. It’s like an insurance policy,” Sutherland said.
Defense undersecretary and department spokesman Ernesto Carolina said the recent nuclear testing in North Korea called for the “imminent partnership” between the Philippines and Canada to respond to such threats.
Carolina said the two countries were “exploring opportunities” for further defense cooperation.
Ebdane said the turnover of the CBRN suits was a “major step forward” for the defense establishment since it is the first time a foreign country has given an equipment and training package to the Philippines.
He said the suits would remain in the military inventory for five years, after which, these would be assessed for repairs.
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
An Office of Civil Defense (OCD) employee tries on a chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protective suit, one of
300 that the Canadian government donated to the Philippines
Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. receives a chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protective suit from
Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Sutherlad. An employee
from the Office of Civil Defense tries one for size
