Velasco defends Makabayan Bloc from Parlade's ‘red-tagging’

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Tuesday defended the House of Representatives' Makabayan Bloc from National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr.'s attempt to "red-tag" them.

In a statement, Velasco said he was deeply concerned over Parlade's red-tagging of House members that "endangers the lives of these duly-elected officials."

"As Speaker of the House, I am duty-bound to protect them from potential harm due to these careless accusations so that they may carry their legal and constitutional mandate as members of Congress," he said.

In an ANC interview on Monday, Parlade said the Makabayan Bloc members as well as former Bayan Muna party-list Representative Neri Colmenares are under surveillance for being "card-bearing" members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

"It's not only Neri Colmenares [who is under surveillance] but it is also other members of the Kamatayan bloc, the Makabayan bloc," said the military commander.

"They are card-bearing members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and I like to repeat that again and again and again," he added, citing information from former CPP members who now supported the government.

Velasco said Parlade should be more circumspect and careful when speaking against House members.

"We may not agree with them on certain issues, but be mindful that these lawmakers are duly elected representatives of the people, and implicating them on issues that have yet to be substantiated is uncalled for," said the Speaker.

Velasco was equally disturbed by Parlade's allegations against celebrities who are merely speaking their minds and promoting their advocacies.

"I hope he will refrain from issuing unrestrained statements that also carry serious repercussions," he said.

"If he has evidence, gather them and go to court, and not to the media," he added.

Apart from Velasco, Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano also defended the Makabayan Bloc from Parlade's allegations.

"He better file a case in court or shut up if he has no evidence to show," said Paduano. — DVM, GMA News