Sobejana: Up to Parlade to prove ‘propagandist’ claim vs. journo

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana on Wednesday distanced himself again from the threat made by Southern Luzon Command chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. against a reporter.

Sobejana said it was up to Parlade to prove his claim that Inquirer.net reporter Tetch Torres-Tupas is a “propagandist” for writing a story on the alleged military abuse of two Aetas. 

Parlade came under fire for hinting that he would sue Tupas over the article. He later apologized and clarified that he had no plans to push through with it. 

Sobejana also said that the "burden of denial" is on Tupas to disprove Parlade's accusation.

“‘Yun kasi, itong burden of proof, of course na kay General Parlade kung bakit niya sinabi ‘yun, ang burden of denial naman na kay Ma’am Tupas, parang ganun lang ‘yun,” the AFP chief said.

However, the Supreme Court said in 2005 that the burden of proof rests with the party that made the allegations and not with the party that denies it, since one must rely “on the strength of his own evidence and not upon the weakness of that of his opponent.” 

Sobejana said Parlade may face sanctions if he is proven to have violated the AFP’s policies on public statements. 

“Hindi ko masabing hindi ko sinasang-ayunan si General Parlade dahil allegation pa lang naman ‘yun. Hindi rin natin ma-discount or ma-drop ‘yung possibility na, kasi sinulat nga e, if you write something meron ka ring, it is a dictate of your emotions or your sympathy or whatever,” he said.

“It will take some time for us really to uncover the truth ano, so let the authorities do their job to find out kung ano ba talaga ang tunay,” Sobejana added.

Parlade’s threat against Tupas was cited by Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and his co-petitioners in a manifestation filed before the High Court challenging the Anti-Terrorism Act. — BM, GMA News