Parlade: Angel Locsin not an NPA, knows her sister is

Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade on Tuesday clarified that he never said actress Angel Locsin was a member of the New People's Army (NPA).

"I never said that Angel Locsin is an NPA but ang statement niya ngayon, sinasabi niya ngayon hindi raw siya NPA. I never said that she is an NPA," Parlade said during the Senate committee on national defense hearing on alleged red-tagging.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, presiding over the inquiry, said he was glad that Parlade made the clarification.

"Her fiance, si Neil Arce is a family friend and as a matter of fact pag kinasal 'yun kukunin akong ninong. So, I'm just making a disclosure... mabuti na 'yung kwentas klaras. I'm just glad that you mentioned that she is not an NPA," Lacson said, adding that this could bring relief to the actress.

Parlade, however, stood firm on his claim that Locsin's sister Ella Colmenares was a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines' armed wing.

"Sana hindi na siya [Angel] magsinungaling na si Ella Colmenares ay hindi NPA dahil si Ella Colmenares ay talagang NPA," he said.

"I know that she knows... We came here, we took an oath and we're not going to say any lies here," he added.

Locsin has denied the allegations that she, her sister, and relative Neri Colmenares were part of the "NPA or any terrorist group."

Neri is a former lawmaker and the incumbent chairman of the Bayan Muna.

Locsin previously released the transcript of records of her sister Ella in the Philippine Christian University from 2005 to 2006, the same period when the latter has been alleged of partaking in an "attack in Polillo."

The actress said the claims of a "gentleman" who kept targeting her and her family were "utterly wrong." 

Locsin said that she feared for her family's safety amid the alleged "red-tagging."

"To our dear politicians and to those who are claiming that the new anti-terrorist bill is safe and is not prone to abuse; Please help us now. Please do not let this kind of treatment and abuse of power to continue," Locsin said.

Parlade mentioned Locsin, "Ka Ella," and Neri in a social media post in which he warned actress Liza Soberano and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray of being associated with the women's rights group Gabriela.

During the hearing, the military official denied anew that he red-tagged the celebrities. -NB, GMA News