Parlade denies red-tagging Liza Soberano

Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. on Friday denied that he is red-tagging actress Liza Soberano when he cautioned her against keeping ties with Gabriela Women's Party.

In a television interview, Parlade was asked if he is planning to apologize to the actress. The military official said he has nothing to apologize for, claiming that the family of Soberano even expressed gratitude to him.

"What should I apologize [for]? Again, why should I apologize? The family thanked me, Atty. Lim called me up to say that they are sending the thank you letter and he told me that the family is thankful... why should I apologize?" Parlade told ANC.

"Again, I did not red-tag Liza Soberano. Those people saying that I red tag got their comments somewhere, maybe they didn't even read my entire statement," Parlade said.

Parlade further said he never mentioned that Soberano is a member of any communist groups.

Parlade also underscored that he is not threatening women as he is also advocating for their rights.

"I'm not threatening these women because I also have daughters, I have sisters. So ang dami kong mga kaibigan na mga babae and I support that advocacy to defend women's rights," Parlade said.

Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas on Thursday 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."

Being exploited?

In the same interview, Parlade, however, expressed belief that Soberano is being "exploited" by the Gabriela Women's Party, which he believes is a front group of communist rebels.

"Obviously, she's the one being exploited by Gabriela... definitely and we should know that. If you read our history, ang dami nating personalities, celebrities in the past, eventually they became rebels, NPAs and this is where they started," Parlade said.

Parlade said it is the responsibility of the government, specifically the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, to inform people about the modus operandi of the Communist Party of the Philippines."

Brosas, in her statement on Thursday, said Parlade’s appeal to stop red-tagging Soberano is “starkly ironic” as he actually red-tagged her in his same statement.

“By saying that Soberano is ‘not yet an NPA,’ he is maliciously associating the actress with the armed movement when what she did in the youth forum was to only speak up for all the victims of gender-based violence and abuse,” Brosas said.

The military official has warned the actress for expressing support towards Gabriela Women's Party. Parlade said Soberano should be educated about the alleged "hidden violent agenda" of Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA), an alleged underground organization under Gabriela.

Soberano's legal counsel, Attorney Juanito Lim Jr., denounced the supposed red-tagging of his client, saying that the actress has remained apolitical.

Lim said Soberano's expressing her love and respect for women and children has been her personal advocacy. — RSJ/KBK, GMA News