Arroyo praises controversial Army general Palparan

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo praised controversial Army Major General Jovito Palparan in her state of the nation address (SONA) Monday. Palparan, presently commander of the Army 7th Infantry Division based in Nueva Ecija, has been blamed by militant groups for the killing of scores of activists in central Luzon, Samar and Mindoro. "(Palparan) won't stop until the communities are free from the night of terror and awaken to the dawning of peace," Mrs. Arroyo said in Filipino. The controversial Army general has been dubbed a "butcher" by human rights groups and critics of Mrs. Arroyo. Palparan stood up in the gallery, waved toward the President and then the crowd, and seemed to have mouthed "Yes, ma'am" as he sat down. Yet soon after she praised Palparan, Mrs. Arroyo said: "I condemn political killings and urge witnesses to come forward." Human rights groups said at least 700 people have been killed since Mrs. Arroyo became President in 2001.- GMANews.TV