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AFP chief Sobejana says Parlade may face sanctions if alleged violations proven
Southern Luzon Command chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. may face sanctions if the Armed Force of the Philippines finds that he violated the AFP's policies on public statements, Armed Forces of the Philippines Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said on Wednesday.
Parlade, who's also the spokesman of the multi-agency National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, recently apologized after he said in Facebook comment that a journalist could be penalized under the Anti-Terror Law for spreading what he called lies.
Sobejana said he had ordered soldiers to observe "due diligence" in sharing information to the public amid accusations of red-tagging involving Parlade.
"Kapag patuloy pa ring nilalabag 'yung ganung klaseng guidance, then we will have to put some sanctions on him kung talagang ma-establish natin,” Sobejana said when asked about the Parlade's alleged violations of the military's social media handbook.
The AFP launched the probe on Parlade following his remarks against a journalist.
In a Facebook post, Parlade denounced
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“Congratulations for a sloppy work Tetch Torres-Tupas of Inquirer.net. You did not even bother to check the side of the AFP and gov't if what you are reporting is true or FAKE. Propagandista. No such thing happened. That unit is not even there but in Davao,” Parlade said.
When asked by a netizen if charges could be filed against Torres-Tupas, Parlade replied: “Aiding the terrorists by spreading lies? Puwede.”
Parlade has since apologized to Tupas.
“What we'll hold is our policy kasi as soldiers we are bound to follow existing rules. You can't imagine an organization without any rules. Masyadong chaotic,” he said.
“So 'yung existing policy natin ilabas natin as against kung ano mang violation. And every violation merong equivalent punishment o sanction,” Sobejana said. -Joviland Rita/NB, GMA News