Iraq contingent chief gets key Army post

A controversial Army general who led the humanitarian contingent to Iraq was designated yesterday as chief of the Philippine Army Directorial Staff in a revamp that affected key positions within the government’s main fighting force.

Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan took over from outgoing Maj. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, who was designated as deputy Army commander, second only to Army chief Lt. Gen. Efren Abu.

Prior to his appointment as chief of the Army Directorial Staff, Palparan served as commander of the 51-man humanitarian contingent deployed to Iraq. It was during his watch that Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz was abducted by Iraqi militants last month.

Palparan’s deployment abroad was interpreted by human rights groups as a ploy by the government for him to escape administrative and other charges they had planned to file against him.

Last Jan. 14, President Arroyo approved a massive revamp in the command structure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was then that Palparan was designated to replace Brig. Gen. Pedro Ramboanga as chief of the Philippine contingent in Iraq.

Palparan, a former Army colonel but now a one-star general, was under investigation for a series of disappearances and summary executions of peasant leaders and human rights advocates in Mindoro sometime last year.

He was placed on "floating" status following accusations by human rights groups that he was behind these incidents. He repeatedly denied the charges, claiming that leftist groups were simply trying to destroy him.

Unidentified armed men believed to be New People’s Army guerrillas ambushed Palparan, who was then commander of the 204th Brigade in Mindoro. He survived but sustained two gunshot wounds.

Palparan’s predecessor, Tolentino, replaced Maj. Gen. Raul Realano, who was appointed division commander of the 6th Infantry Division based at Camp Awang in Maguindanao.

Realano replaced Maj. Gen. Generoso Senga, who was earlier designated as chief of the military’s Southern Command based in Zamboanga.