The General, the Students, and "The Butcher's" Shadow Retired Philippine Army Major General Jovito Palparan Jr.—a man once decorated for his aggressive counterinsurgency campaigns—is now a symbol of the dark side of that war. His story is one of military accolades leading to a legacy marred by accusations of grave human rights abuses. Born in 1950, Palparan served in the military since 1973, rising through the ranks to lead battalions in key operational areas like Mindoro, Samar, and Central Luz