The Department of National Defense justified the designation of Southern Luzon Command Chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) amidst moves by legislators to root him out of the post.
The Senate approved the recommendation resulting from its investigation on alleged red tagging activities of the military. Some representatives in the Lower Chamber have agreed with their counterpart.
The lawmakers insisted that the Constitution prohibits any active member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to hold any civilian position.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reasoned out that the AFP is one of the lead agencies in the NTF ELCAC. “General Parlade is part of the AFP and so his expertise is being utilized as spokesman of the NTF ELCAC. Wala akong nakikitang violation of the Constitution (I do not see any violation of the Constitution),” Sec. Lorenzana defended.
The NTF ELCAC has also shown its support for Parlade. Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) insisted that the task force is turning down the recommendation of the Upper House.
“Senator Lacson is wrong when he says that the NTF ELCAC is a civilian task force. It is a task force that enlists each and every member of the government in the battle to end this 52-year communist scourge that has brought so much grievous harm and endless suffering to the Filipino people, PCOO Usec. Lorraine Badoy and NTF ELCAC Spokesperson pointed out.
Lt. Gen. Parlade said he is open to the recommendation of the Senate. In fact, he admitted that he himself asked to be replaced as spokesperson last year since he would be leading the SOLCOM.
He revealed that an estimated hundred active soldiers are holding positions in the NTF ELCAC and floated the possibility of being pinpointed.
