Wagging the Buffalo

In the Central Luzon province of Nueva Ecija, Palparan's anti-communist strategy is to engage locals, gather intelligence and identify outside agitators. Small military teams block access to so-called militants representing political parties like Bayan Muna and Akbayan, which Palparan considers "a different face of [communist] political warfare that's not healthy for our democracy." The goal, he says, is to neutralize rebel activities by empowering the "silent majority." To that end, the military is creating village-level militia to keep rebels and activists out after soldiers depart.

But Palparan's tactics are under scrutiny. In the three areas where he has held command since 2001, 128 alleged "communist sympathizers" have been murdered. In one high-profile case, masked gunmen abducted two human-rights investigators working in Mindoro Oriental in April 2003, then bound, tortured and killed them. Witnesses identified a sergeant in Palparan's 204th Infantry Brigade as a suspect, but investigators dropped their inquiry when he claimed to have an alibi. (The murders remain unsolved.) "Death squads? I don't know what they mean by death squads," replied Palparan when asked if he runs them.

The military, however, may be fighting yesterday's battle. Most experts say the New People's Army is not a serious threat. Meanwhile the resentments that are fueling calls in some quarters for land reform and the nationalization of key industries are only growing. Lawmaker Teddy Casiño says corruption and cronyism are the real problems. Last year a $14 million fund for fertilizer for poor farms allegedly ended up not in the fields, but lining pockets in Congress. The deal's suspected architect, the then Agriculture Under Secretary Jocelyn Bolantes, fled to the United States when the Senate launched hearings into the case. Arroyo's real enemies may be closer to home, not out in the bush.

With Tonette Orejas in Nueva Ecija

© 2006