Esperon: Parlade not holding plantilla position as NTF-ELCAC spokesman

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Monday defended the designation of Army Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. as spokesperson of the government’s anti-insurgency task force after senators questioned his appointment.

Senators earlier said the 1987 Constitution prohibits active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from holding civilian positions.

But Esperon said a civilian position refers only to a plantilla item or a Career Executive Service (CES) position under Executive Order 371 signed by President Corazon Aquino in 1989.

“The position of a spokesperson is not a plantilla position. It is not a CESO (Career Executive Service Officer) position and therefore it is allowed. Task forces are allowed to be formed. General Parlade is not receiving any pay and allowances for this extra job,” Esperon said at a press briefing.

The EO, however, also states that a civilian position means “the very nature of the job does not require military training, experience and/or expertise or the functions of the position are obviously civilian in nature.”

Esperon said the legality of Parlade’s designation as spokesperson is “under open discussion.”

“We have to keep it to ourselves first because I’m discussing this with the concerned agencies and the senators themselves. They have their position. We have also stated our position,” said Esperon, who is the vice-chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Esperon also clarified Parlade’s “stupid” remark against senators who threatened to defund the task force amid the issue of red-tagging.

“He did not call the senators stupid. He said if they will defund the Barangay Development program or the NTF-ELCAC then that is stupid,” the Cabinet official said.

“It is not the best statement but defunding it might be very unreasonable,” he added.

The Senate in March adopted a committee report recommending the removal of Parlade as NTF-ELCAC spokesperson. — DVM, GMA News