Drilon seeks Parlade censure over ‘stupid’ remarks vs Senate

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Saturday said he would introduce a resolution censuring National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spokesperson Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. for remarks he made against senators.

“Ngayon lang ako nakarinig ng isang opisyal ng Armed Forces na sinasabing istupido ang mga senador. That is very disrespectful at uncalled for,” Drilon was quoted as saying in a statement.

(This is the first time I heard an official of the Armed Forces call senators stupid. That is very disrespectful and uncalled for.)

Parlade had earlier accused senators of being “stupid” for seeking to recall the NTF-ELCAC's budget as they were the ones who approved the budget.

The senator, in turn, called Parlade’s swipe against the Senate “stupid,” saying his remark has no place in a healthy debate.

“Such a display of arrogance beneath contempt should be censured,” he said.

“Sa aking tingin, talagang dapat ipakita ng Senado ang kanilang displeasure. It is a behavior that we can censure,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Parlade’s “loose-lips” may end up taking away the accomplishments achieved by the NTF-ELCAC.

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines must remain apolitical. Otherwise, the constitutional balance among institutions is skewed and democratic governance is disturbed and even threatened,” Lacson said in a separate interview.

“Lt. Gen. Parlade should just focus on ending insurgency and fighting terrorism. When he retires, he can debate all he wants on political issues," he added.

Lacson said the NTF-ELCAC was dragged into controversies because of the spokesperson’s commentaries.

“Nauuna ang bibig niya sa kanyang ginagawa. Yan ang danger, kasi nakakagulo na. Instead of helping, his loose lips threaten to drag the NTF-ELCAC into the mess," he said.

Strong message

Lacson also warned that the Senate could send the defense establishment a strong message by denying the NTF-ELCAC a budget for 2022, should Parlade remain its spokesperson.

"There is a consensus among senators in the minority and majority, to send a message to the defense establishment that cooperation is a two-way street. They cannot just keep asking without giving back," he said.

"Why do they tolerate him? Will they sacrifice the entire establishment just because of one of its officers' loose lips?"

Meanwhile, Drilon said Parlade’s remarks showed his lack of respect for senators and the Senate itself.

“The Senate should censure him. Hindi dapat palampasin ito. Otherwise, masasanay at hindi na rerespetuhin ang Senado, he argued.

In March, the Senate recommended Parlade's removal as the spokesperson of the NTF-ELCAC. — DVM, GMA News