Philippine ex-general denies extra-judicial killings

MANILA, Sep 26 (Reuters) A recently retired Philippine general, called ''The Butcher'' by left-wing groups, denied today that he or his men were responsible for extra-judicial killings or abductions of activists.

Major-General Jovito Palparan was deposing before a commission set up by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to investigate hundreds of killings and disappearances of left-wing workers and journalists since she took power in 2001.

Asked why he was called a butcher, Palparan said: ''I earned the tag from those who considered me their enemy. The militants and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) are out to discredit me or get rid of me physically.'' The Philippines has been fighting a communist insurgency for decades. Officials declared an all-out war against the NPA in June and promised to eradicate it within two years.

Local human rights group Karapatan says more than 700 leftist activists, farmers, students, community organisers and journalists have been killed since Arroyo came to power.

Amnesty International has said at least 51 were killed in the first six months of this year.

Karapatan says more than 130 activists have been killed since 2002 in areas where Palparan has been the military commander.

''I am not in a position to agree,'' the slim, scholarly-looking Palparan said when asked about the figures.

''It's not my policy to engage in illegal activities. I don't know of any of my soldiers engaged in killing. I am sure my soldiers are clean.'' He also denied encouraging vigilantes or local farmers to take on left-wing activists.

But Palparan added: ''The majority of people who want peace must be empowered. They have to defend themselves if attacked.

They have to avoid getting deceived, fight if necessary.

''I want communism totally erased,'' he said. ''But there are a number of ways to erase communism.'' Asked if one way was to kill activists, Palparan said: ''For armed groups, yes. They are killing people, so we have to put a stop to that.'' Palparan, who retired earlier this month, has been cleared of rights abuses by the military, armed forces chief General Hermogenes Esperon told the commission last week.

He was singled out for praise by Arroyo in a state of the nation address in July and local media say he is likely to be given a senior post in government.

Communist insurgents have vowed to kill Palparan and have called him a ''dead man walking''. He arrived for the commission hearing escorted by bodyguards and a truckload of soldiers.

''Modesty aside, I have made it quite difficult for the CPP-NPA,'' the ex-general said. ''They are really out to discredit me or get my head.

''I am retired now but my mission is not finished. We must help each other to eliminate insurgency. It's the due of every citizen to make this country peaceful.'' REUTERS PB RN1328