Reactivating retired Army Gen. Jovito Palparan's career and have him lead a drug enforcement agency merely create the impression that the Arroyo administration is not serious in its pledge to improve its human rights record.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday echoed the concerns recently raised by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) over the possibility of rights violations of suspected drug users and pushers, citing the numerous charges against Palparan on alleged abuse of authority.

Palparan's assumption to the top post of either the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) or the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), as indicated by the Palace, could only prove to be a liability to the administration as far as advancing its anti-illegal drug campaign is concerned.

[continues 525 words]