Carpio, Morales turn to Supreme Court over Parlade ‘intimidation’

Retired justices Antonio Carpio and Conchita Carpio Morales have brought to the Supreme Court's (SC) attention military official Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade's "possible intimidation" of the groups challenging the anti-terrorism law.

In a Monday court filing, petitioners Carpio, Carpio Morales and UP law professors asked the SC to order the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to explain whether a post by Facebook user Antonio Parlade is an "official communication from the government or a public officer."

They also want to know the "source, circumstances behind, and intent of the post," they said in a manifestation and motion.

They cited a public Facebook post by Parlade, who is member of the government's anti-communist insurgency task force, warning against groups opposing the anti-terrorism law.

"The SC will soon be hearing petitions against the Anti Terror Law. Let's be watchful of these individuals, groups, and organizations opposing a law that will protect our citizens from terrorists. What's their agenda?" the post reads.

"The gall of Ferdinand Gaite, Carlos Zarate, Sarah Elago and the rest of these CPP representatives and colleagues, including NUPL," it adds, referring to lawmakers from the House of Representatives' Makabayan bloc, and the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers.

Thirty-seven petitions from various sectors have been filed against the law. The SC will hold oral arguments next week.

Parlade's post ends with: "The Day of Judgement is upon you and the Filipino people, who have suffered enough from the malignant hands of the CPP NPA NDF of which you are part of, sit in Judgement. Very soon, blood debts will be settled. The long arm of the law will catch up on you, and your supporters."

Carpio and his co-petitioners said they consider the post a "clear threat" to them because they belong to those opposing the law, even though the post did not specifically name them.

"Petitioners believe this is a matter of serious concern that requires judicial remedy as the Post, if indeed made by a State actor, construes the ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act) to be able to penalize the right to seek judicial relief before the Honorable Court," they said.

They argued this is "inconsistent" with the right to petition the government for redress of grievances.

"Designed to intimidate ('blood debts will be paid'), the Post also amounts to interference with the Honorable Court's power to administer Justice, as it is directed to the Parties and their counsel days before the matter is heard by the Honorable Court," they said.

Carpio's group further argued that Parlade's threat "falls within" definition of terrorism -- which they are assailing -- under the anti-terror law itself.

They urged the SC to order the OSG to explain before oral arguments are held on February 2.

This is the latest action taken against Parlade's "red-tagging." The military official has previously been sued before the Office of the Ombudsman by the people and organizations he has accused of communist links.—LDF, GMA News