Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 28) — Senator Panfilo Lacson wants to look into the controversy of red-tagging by military officials.
Senate Resolution 559 by Senator Panfilo Lacson sought for the probe “to exercise its [Senate] oversight authority on the issue of red tagging/red-baiting of certain celebrities, personalities, institutions, and organizations.”
“After seeking the opinion of SP Sotto on Senate Resolution 559, he said, since it is in the exercise of the Senate’s oversight function, first reading in plenary may be waived, or not necessary. First public hearing is scheduled next week, Nov 3,” he said on Twitter.
The resolution said the invesitgation would help clear the air on misunderstandings between the military and the public on such issues, such that people’s rights will be protected and confidence in the military will be strengthened.
It noted the issue where Lt. G.en Antonio Parlade Jr. spoke against actress Liza Soberano’s participation in an event hosted by Gabriela Youth.
He warned the actress from working further with the left-leaning group, and also gave a similar warning to Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.
The resolution recognized Parlade’s accomplishments as a soldier, but said all men and women in uniform “should exercise prudence and self-discipline in making public pronouncements that may be misconstrued as the policy of the State.”
It also mentioned that President Duterte warned military and police to be careful in committing such acts.
Lacson said the probe will invite Parlade.
“We will summon the AFP leadership, even the Defense Department particularly si Lieutenant General Parlade. We will also invite Gabriela and other militant groups para maliwanagan san ba nag-uugat ang misunderstanding at conflict pagdating sa red-tagging, red-baiting,” he said,
[Translation: We will summon the AFP leadership, even the Defense Department particularly Lieutenant General Parlade. We will also invite Gabriela and other militant groups so we can get clarification on the root of the misunderstanding and conflict on red-tagging and red-baiting.]
Lacson confirmed that the first public hearing would be on November 3.
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, concurrent National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) vice chairman, said he supported Parlade and Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, saying it was about time someone told the truth about groups which he said were fronts for the Communist Party of the Philippines and its military arm New People’s Army.
In Wednesday’s ‘Laging Handa’ briefing he said, “Yeah. Sinusuportahan ko at sinasabi ko rin, dinadagdagan ko iyong sinasabi nila kung hindi pa nila nasabi. Pero napakagaling ni Lorraine at saka ni General Parlade, nasasabi nila ang lahat. At ngayon lang kasi nangyayari na mayroon tayong mga spokespersons na ganito na talagang nagsasabi ng totoo at kailangan talaga magising na ang buong bayan. Ano ba ang gusto natin? Palalawigin ba natin itong 52 years nang CPP-NPA na ginugulo tayo o gusto na nating wakasan ito?” he said.
[Translation: I support and will add to what they’re saying if they haven’t said it yet. But Lorraine and General Parlade are very good because they said everything. And it’s just now that we have spokesperson who tell the truth because people really need to wake up. What do we really want? Do we want to encourage the COO-NPA who has been causing trouble for 52 years or should we end this?]
Parlade is the spokesperson of NTF-ELCAC.
He said Parlade merely said there were underground organizations that have legal fronts, and cited the example of Kalipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan underground organization and its alleged front, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers
“Ang sinasabi ko, iyong mga miyembro ng ACT ay hindi mga komunista iyan kung hindi may mga nagku-control sa kanila na miyembro ng underground movement, iyong Kalipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan. At iyan ay sa mga organo ng National Teacher’s Bureau ng Communist Party of the Philippines,” he said.
[Translation: What I’m saying, is the members of the ACT are not communists but they are being controlled by the members of the underground movement, the Kalipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan. And that is an organ of the National Teacher’s Bureau of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]
He also mentioned the Makabayan bloc.
“Kaya iyon ang sinasabi ni General Parlade na kayo ay mga front organizations at kasama na diyan ang Bayan or iyong Makabayan Bloc dahil nasa parliamentary struggle na nga sila ngunit ang kanilang trabaho talaga ay upang mapalakas iyong mga ibang organization or iyong underground organization sa kanilang pagri-recruit ng mga kasapi. Kaya ganoon din ang sinasabi ni Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, pareho sila ng sinasabi. Paano natin wawakasan itong armed revolution?” he said.
[Translation: And that’s what General Parlade is sayig that these are front organizations including Bayan or the Makabayan Bloc because they are in parliamentary struggle now but their job really is to strengthen other oganizations or the underground organization with their recruitment. That’s what Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy is saying, they are saying the same. How do we end this armed revolution?]
House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said in a statement on Wednesday that Esperon’s comments were lies.
“Like his paranoid protege, Gen. Parlade, Esperon is just spouting out lies and fake news but does not present evidence that would stand up in court. Obviously, they don’t want to settle the issue with solid evidence in court that is why they would rather further malign us in public,” Zarate said.
