PALACE DEFENDS PALPARAN'S ANTI-DRUG ROLE

MALACAA'ANG on Saturday fended off criticisms involving the upcoming
appointment of retired military general Jovito Palparan Jr. to the
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

Presidential Management Staff head and incoming press secretary Cerge
Remonde said it was "unfortunate" that Palparan would come under fire
for being "effective" against "communist terrorists."

"He has proven he can deliver. It is somebody like General Palparan
who can be of big help," Remonde said on government-run dzRB radio.

"It was just unfortunate that Palparan acquired a bad track record of
alleged human rights violations for which he has been investigated
and made to answer," he added.

But Remonde said it was also true that Palparan had a track record of
being "effective" in his campaign against "communist terrorist groups."

"Primarily it is because of his being effective that his (opponents)
are (attacking) his image," he said.

Meanwhile, the Palace official assured that there are "safeguards" in
place such as the Commission on Human Rights to check alleged abuses
by Palparan.

"So I think the feared excesses of Palparan will be mitigated by
this," said Remonde. "For us who want to sincerely stamp out or
minimize illegal drugs I think General Palparan can be of great
help."