AFP has no way to overrule Parlade remarks on red-tagging —Sobejana

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is not in the position to overrule the "red-tagging" remarks of Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., said military chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana on Wednesday.

Sobejana made the remark in response to questions about the status of the investigation on Parlade during the Commission on Appointments panel hearing to confirm his nomination to the rank of general.

But Sobejana confirmed that the investigation on Parlade is still ongoing.

Nevertheless, he clarified that although Parlade is also serving as spokesperson for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the AFP is an "integral part" of the said task force.

"All the statements of Gen. Parlade has the 'blessings' (may basbas) of the strategic communication committee of the national task force," Sobejana said. 

"[This is why] we support Parlade's statements and there's no way we have to overrule such pronouncements," he added.

Senator Risa Hontiveros was dismayed by Sobejana's remark, saying that she does not want the military to be associated with some of Parlade's statements.

Most senators do not welcome some of Palade's remarks. I also don't want to ascribe his statements to the AFP, being I myself a widow of a PMAer and an elder sister of a Philippine Navy marines, Hontiveros said in Filipino.

("Para sa marami sa amin dito sa Senado, hindi welcome yung ibang mga statements ni General Parlade. Ayaw namin at ayaw ko rin bilang widow ng isang PMAer, ate ng isang Philippine Navy marines, ayaw kong i-ascribe sa AFP yung ibang mga statements ni Gen. Parlade") 

Addressing Sobejana, Hontiveros said in Filipino, "I had a lot of trust and hope that, at least, red-tagging would be avoided when you began taking the helm because the AFP is mandated to protect the Filipino people."      

For his part, Senator Panfilo Lacson pointed out that Parlade is not part of the AFP chain of command in his capacity as NTE-ELCAC spokesperson.

"So you cannot say that the AFP is fully supportive of whatever he says as spokesperson of the NTF-ELCAC," he said.

Sobejana maintained that the AFP is fully supportive of the objectives of the NTF-ELCAC.

He, nevertheless, told the panel that he has already talked to Parlade regarding his "red-tagging" remarks.

"I called the attention of Gen. Parlade. I told him that we should be very deliberate with all the things that we do, may it be in speech or in words, and we should exercise due diligence," he said.

While Parlade took note of the suggestion, Sobejana said the SolCom chief insisted that he has all the supporting documents or evidence to back his claims against activists and progressive groups.

Sobejana earlier said Parlade might face sanctions if proven that he violated the AFP's policies on public statements.

This was after Parlade slammed Inquirer.net reporter Tetch Torres-Tupas for her story on two Aeta community members who sought help from the Supreme Court after being allegedly tortured by state forces.

Parlade has since apologized to Tupas over his remark. —LBG, GMA News