Out of AFP, Palparan turns to Bantay and his dogs

"Butcher." Jovito S. Palparan Jr has come to terms with his moniker in leftist circles. Militants have blamed him for 500 of the 860 extra-judicial killings reported since 2001. The retired general, 56, failed to land a seat in Congress for his Bantay party-list group. Through it, however, he says he plans to press on with his anti-communist insurgency efforts, even as he takes care of his kids and dogs. Born on September 11 - the same day as the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos - Palparan says he doesn't mind the butcher tag anymore. "Hindi na, nasanay ka na eh. Alam mo naman na may kalaban ka (I don't mind it anymore. I got used to what my enemies call me) and they always hit you. That's part of the job, so why be emotional?" He, in fact, doesn't think that he looks and sounds like a typical brutal, indiscriminate murderer. "Nakakatakot ba ko? Ano kakatakutan nila sa 'kin? (Am I someone to be feared of? What will they fear of me)"? In a no holds barred interview with GMANews.TV Tuesday night, Palparan said he will pursue his anti-communist insurgency work, after 33 years of military service. But this time, he'll do like a community organizer does under Bantay party-list. He said the organization must continue its work despite its defeat in the May 14 polls. Palparan said he would remain active in Bantay, while looking after his "six children." Three of them, he explained, are four-legged canines who bark and wag their tails at the mere sight of their "father." Excerpts from the interview: What's you plan after the elections? Hindi pa maliwanag sa akin, but I think I'll continue with my organization…especially yung counter-insurgency natin, yung mga taong sumuporta at naniniwala sa atin…more of the anti-communist organizations…I'll continue that. Bantay party-list must continue, although may problema kami d'on sa real name n'ya na True Marcos Loyalist, siguro babaguhin na lang namin. Eh pro-Marcos loyalist, hindi masyadong magandang pakinggan, very confusing pa. In what places will Bantay focus its anti-communist work? Do'n sa affected communities…the areas that we have cleared already (of communist insurgents) we must strengthen them…in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Tarlac, Pangasinan. We have to continue our effort of supporting the military, may military component kami d'yan, sila talaga yung nag-clear, and we will just follow up (through our) political effort. So, you will work like a community organizer? Yes, yes. Kailangan 'yun eh. Dapat naka-base talaga sa tao. How do you approach people and convince them that Communism is not the road to development? It's easy to tell them that. What needs to be done is to neutralize the threat. Kailangan mawala lang yung threat. That's why the military and the police must work together. But how do you convince people that Communism is bad? We just explain (to them) the consequence of being involved in the Communist movement…We convince them, that's not the way. Kung kasama ka d'yan, you are actually putting yourself in danger…So you just have to get out and we will help you. Since college o high school ba galit na kayo sa mga communists? Hindi naman, hindi naman lahat 'yan ay dahil sa galit. We really have to eradicate them, di naman magagalit ka lang… that's part of my job. "Ikaw naman siguro, alam mo na hindi talaga tama. We have to be continuously at war. Ikaw ba gusto mong nad'yan sila, palaging nanggugulo? Sa akin nagiging intense lang because I'm on the job. Nandyan na 'yang mabubuwisit ka. Bakit? Kasi continuous yung gyera, yung killings, tsaka yung panloloko sa tao. It's there. When you talk to leftists, how do you feel? Naaawa ka na naiinis. How do you approach them? Depende sa tao. Wala kayong kaibigan na leftist? After they have been cleansed (they become my friends). Hindi naman naaapektuhan ang personal na buhay n'yo? Hindi. How do you spend your day? Normal routine lang, masaya lang sa akin yung mga anak ko, malapit sila sa akin and my dogs, tatlo sila – isang Maltese at dalawang askals (asong kalye). Dati we live in the military quarters, now, amin na talaga yung bahay.. All the kids are now with me – bale anim na – three are four-legged. Any job offer from the government? Very silent sila right now. So that means none? Maybe, alangan namang ipilit mo yung sarili mo. No offer. Noon meron, as of now, wala naman. Di ba may offer noon sa DOJ (Department of Justice) ? It was a consuelo de bobo, pero may mga ayaw sa akin do'n. There was politics. Big lesson you learned from the military? The military is a noble profession and you serve the people with full satisfaction. Did you have failures, those that really hit you? Wala akong masyadong debacle, except na may mga tao ka na nadidisgrasya along the way, so you feel bad. Is it possible for you to have leftist friends? Puwede rin…pero wala, because they don't want. You're not hurt when your critics call you…? Butcher? Hindi na, nasanay ka na eh. Alam mo naman na may kalaban ka and they always hit you. That's part of the job, so why be emotional? Masyado yata kasi kayong nakakatakot? Nakakatakot ba ko? Ano kakatakutan nila sa 'kin? Who is the real Jovito Palparan? Just a simple guy, an ordinary person. - GMANews.TV