SolCom chief warns actress Liza Soberano vs. supporting Gabriela

Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. has warned actress Liza Soberano regarding her support to Gabriela Women's Party, which the military claims is a front organization of communist rebels.

In a statement on Wednesday night, Parlade said the actress should not be red-tagged as she is merely supporting the advocacy for women's rights.

Parlade said Soberano is "not yet" a member of the New People's Army and that she and other celebrities should be educated on the "hidden violent agenda" of Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA).

According to Parlade, MAKIBAKA is an underground group hiding under Gabriela Women's Party.

"Liza Soberano, there' s still a chance to abdicate that group. If you don't, you will suffer the same fate as Josephine Anne Lapira @ELLA, former Deputy Secretary General of Gabriela Youth of UP Manila and defender of women's rights, even against sexual predators amongst her comrades in the NPA unit she joined which is clearly stated in her handwritten letter addressed to a certain @EMIL," Parlade said.

The military official also gave the same warning to Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.

"The choice is yours, Liza and so with you, Catriona..." Parlade added.

Parlade even advised the actress not to follow the path of one Ka Ella Colmenares.

"I am sure Angel Locsin and Neri Colmenares will not tell you this," Parlade said.

Parlade, in the same statement, also slammed Gabriela for not informing their recruits about their supposed agenda.

"So, Rep. Arlene Brosas and Gabriela, shame on you if you haven't informed your recruits about your hidden violent agenda," he said.

Red-tagging, mansplaining

In response, Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas accused Parlade of "rabidly red-tagging" Soberano and other female celebrities and influencers who are taking a stand and speaking out against the macho-fascism under the Duterte regime." 

"How come these macho-fascists have the audacity to mansplain strong women and lecture them on what to do? And why do they seem so afraid of women using their platform to defend other women?" she said.

In saying Soberano is "not yet an NPA," Brosas said Paralde is "maliciously associating" the actress with the armed movement when she only spoke up for the victims of gender-based violence and abuse.

"These rabid NTF-ELCAC executives are using their rehashed script to discredit Gabriela Women’s Party despite our long track record of advocating women’s rights. Our 20 years of advancing women and children’s rights inside and outside of Congress cannot be smeared by their repeated lies," Brosas said.

"They are becoming desperate as we approach our 20th anniversary celebration on October 25, wherein we will highlight our achievements and the broad support for our agenda and advocacy," he added.  —with Erwin Colcol/KBK, GMA News