Parlade retires, Bacarro assumes post as Solcom chief

Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. formally retired from the military over the weekend, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Monday.

In a statement, the AFP said Parlade was replaced by Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division commander Major General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro as the new Solcom commander.

AFP chief General Cirilito Sobejana presided over the change of command and retirement ceremony at Camp Nakar in Quezon Province on Sunday.

Sobejana cited Parlade for the effective and timely implementation of campaign plans to eradicate the remaining “communist terrorist groups” (CTGs) operating in Southern Luzon.

“Solcom, under Lieutenant General Parlade, certainly ensured that the people of Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region are free from the influence of the enemies of the state, who continuously resort to violence, intimidation, and deception in pursuing their crooked interests and vile goals,” he said.

Parlade is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Hinirang” Class of 198 while Bacarro is a member of the PMA “Maringal” Class of 1988, according to the AFP.

Parlade had drawn criticisms from several organizations and lawmakers when he was spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict  for  linking personalities and groups to communist rebels, including celebrities Liza Soberano and Angel Locsin.

His critics wanted him out of NTF-ELCAC. The Senate Committee on National Defense also recommended Parlade's removal as NTF-ELCAC spokesperson.

On July 1, Parlade confirmed that he already resigned from NTF-ELCAC to ease the pressure on the task force’s leaders who are being questioned for his designation.

Bacarro’s designation

Bacarro, meanwhile, also previously served as the commandant of the PMA Cadet Corps.

Earlier, House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez called on President Rodrigo Duterte to recall Bacarro's appointment.

He pointed out that Bacarro’s new appointment is an injustice to his constituent, PMA Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio, who died due to hazing in September 2019.

But Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana defended Bacarro’s designation.

“Major General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro went through a rigorous selection process by the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Board of Generals and found fit to assume a higher position in the AFP,” Lorenzana said in a statement early July.

“The Department of National Defense is confident that Major General Bacarro's expertise and mettle in internal security operations will greatly help in the AFP's mission to secure our communities in Southern Luzon,” he added.

Medal of Valor

Bacarro also served as internal auditor of the AFP, chief of staff of 4th Infantry Division, commander of 502nd Infantry Brigade and also the head of the AFP’s anti-insurgency task force.

He is also a graduate of US Army Command & General Staff Course in Kansas,  USA, the AFP said.

Bacarro was awarded with the Medal of Valor “for acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry, and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty” during an encounter with New People's Army rebels in Isabela in 1991.

“Major General Bacarro’s bravery and gallantry are beyond reproach. He is a leader who never leaves his men behind in the direst of situations,” Sobejana said.

“ I expect that he will usher in more accomplishments and milestones not only for this command, but also for the whole of Southern Luzon,” he added. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News