ARMY Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade has resigned as spokesman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Parlade said he submitted his resignation letter to President Duterte “almost a month ago” but has yet to get a response from the Chief Executive.
Parlade, who is the concurrent commander of the Lucena City-based AFP Southern Luzon Command, said he resigned “to ease the pressure to the NTF ELCAC principals who are being questioned by legislators for designating me inspite my being in the active service.”
In March, the Senate committee on national defense and security, peace and reconciliation recommended the removal of Parlade as NTF-ELCAC spokesman on the ground that his appointment was against the 1987 Constitution.
The committee cited Article 16, Section 5 of the Constitution that says no active member of the Armed Forces shall be, at any time, be appointed or designated a civilian post in the government, including government owned and controlled corporation.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has justified the designation of Parlade as NTF-ELCAC spokesman, saying his appointment was not a violation of the Constitution because the Armed Forces is part of the task force.
“There are so many legal bases justifying my appointment as constitutional but I will not belabor myself with those,” said Parlade.
If Parlade’s resignation is accepted by the President, the task force will be left with six spokesmen – undersecretaries Lorraine Marie Badoy, Jonathan Malaya, and Severo Catura; assistant secretary Celine Pialago, lawyer Marlon Bosantog, and Gayedelle Florendo
“I am happy that there are now six more civilian NTF spokespersons who shall carry on the fight passionately and with conviction,” said Parlade.
Parlade became controversial for his red-tagging or linking of individuals and organizations to communist groups. He likewise tagged 18 colleges and universities in Metro Manila as alleged recruitment hubs of the New People’s Army.
Last April, Parlade called as stupid the senators who sought to defund the NFT-ELCAC after he linked some organizers of community pantries to the communist movement.
Parlade is due to bow out of the military service on July 26 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. His successor will be 2nd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro.
“Even then, I want to assure our critics that I am not running away from this fight. As a citizen of this country it behooves on me to continue with my patriotic duty to defend our country and end the 52 years onslaught of the CPP NPA terrorists, whatever legal way I can,” said Parlade.
Parlade said he will not back off the fight against the communists now that they are on the brink of collapse.
President Duterte wants the communist problem ended before the end of his term in June next year. In May, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said the New People’s Army now has only around 4,000 regular fighters from 5,000 when the President Duterte took over the presidency.
Esperon sought to downplay the resignation of Parlade as spokesman of the task force.
“Why? All is well. We have formed already a new spokesperson system with more of them,” said Esperon, noting the task force already have several spokespersons.
“This doesnt mean that general Parlade or NTF ELCAC is easing up on the communist terrorists,” said Esperon.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the resignation of Parlade will spare the AFP as an institution from further embarrassment.
“His resignation is a welcome development. The Senate through the Committee on National Defense and Security already pointed out that his continued holding of this position was irregular, anomalous and contrary to the Constitution. It will also spare the AFP as an institution further embarrassment and will send the signal that the AFP is a professional organization that upholds and respects the Constitution and the Rule of Law,” Pangilinan said.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Parlade informed him of his resignation letter more than a month ago when the military official visited him at his Senate office.
“I thanked and commended him even as that resignation was still subject to the approval of higher authorities,” Lacson said, adding that the all legal issues related to Parlade’s appointment will now be laid to rest. — With Raymond Africa
