Improving gov’t services in Cordillera / Rights violators

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

The Civil Service Commission- Cordillera Administrative Region has released its “report card survey” results of the performance of Cordillera agencies and there is much to be desired in improving these.

Out of the 35 agencies surveyed, 20 passed and 15 failed. Fernando M. Porio, regional CSC director said those who failed will undergo the Service Delivery Excellence Program to improve their processes and procedures on frontline services delivery. The RCS results were furnished the heads of agencies for them to consider the recommendation.

The survey is a CSC program required by Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007. More agencies are targeted to be subjected to the survey in 2012 to promote efficiency in government.

The RCS aimes to check on compliance of government agencies with the ARTA provision on its Citizen’s Charter to include, “no lunch break” rule, anti-fixer campaign, service quality, help desk, physical working condition and client satisfaction.
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Sen. Francis Pangilinan has cited the government’s commitment to press charges against former Maj. Gen. JovitoPalparan and several others for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of two University the Philippines students

Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, expressed hope this will send a strong signal to those believing they are still protected by a cloak of impunity. Pangilinan called on the courts to also resolve similar cases of disappearances, especially under the past regime.

The senator made the call as Malacañang accused detained former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of protecting Palparan during her administration.

“Retired Major General Jovito Palparan, formerly so bold and brazen, and lavishly coddled by the former administration, is now a fugitive from justice,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

“Come out, come out wherever you are,” Lacierda said in a statement. “While he no longer has men under his command, and while he can no longer behave with impunity, it is incumbent upon Mr. Palparan to submit to the authorities and face the charges in court,” Lacierda added.

“We hope that he will face the music and face the charges. Surrender now,” he said. –

Palparan is now on the run after a local court in Bulacan province ordered his arrest in connection with a kidnapping and illegal detention case filed by the Department of Justice.

Judge Teodora Gonzales of Malolos Regional Trial Court branch 14 issued the warrant against Palparan, accused in the disappearance of University of the Philippines students SherlynCadapan and Karen Empeño.

The retired military official is being accused as mastermind in the disappearance of the two students in 2006. Abducted with the two students was farmer Manuel Merino.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said copies of the warrant of arrest were earlier furnished to the National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies to serve it.

The warrant of arrest was issued a day after the former military general, who has been tagged by activists as "The Butcher," attempted to leave the country via a SeaAir flight bound for Singapore.

The Bureau of Immigration said that Palparan was offloaded from the Singapore-bound flight at around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at the DiosdadoMacapagal International Airport in Clark Freeport, Pampanga.

Palparan had protested that he should have been allowed to leave since the watchlist order issued against him by the Department of Justice has already expired. De Lima, however, said that the watcthlist order remains effective since it has not been officially lifted.

Human rights group Karapatan has called on the justice department to transfer Palparan's case to another court due to security reasons.

The group demanded a change venue from Malolos Regional Trial Court to Metro Manila RTC because of what they called real security risks to complainants, witnesses and attorneys.

It is high time alleged human rights violators like Palparan are made to answer for their crimes. And for starting this by filing charges against Plaparan, the Aquino administration deserves credit.