Parlade to Robredo: Take NTF-ELCAC or leave it

Vice President Leni Robredo should either throw her full support behind the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) or oppose it, former NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Antonio Parlade Jr. said Tuesday.

Parlade issued the statement after Robredo said that she was supportive of the NTF-ELCAC's mandate but had always been against the actions of the anti-insurgency task force officials who subjectively tag individuals as communists, terrorists, or both.

Robredo did not name the NTF-ELCAC officials.

"It is unclear what Vice Robredo is against because she keeps on flip-flopping on this issue. She is a presidential frontrunner and she can’t seem to make up her mind. Madam Vice President, it is either you are for NTF-ELCAC and its programs or you are not. You have to take it lock, stock, and barrel," said Parlade, who is running for president under the Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino party.

"She takes varying positions depending on her audience and has been alluding on NTF-ELCAC officials who are alleged to have red-tagged critics subjectively. Is this what we want from our future president? Subjective identification of communists you mention? According to who? Rappler? Inquirer?" Parlade added, referring to media organizations.

Robredo initially said she was for the abolition of NTF-ELCAC due to a duplication of mandate but later clarified that she was against red-tagging but supportive of the whole of nation approach in fighting terrorists which is the mandate of the anti-insurgency task force.

The clarification happened during her meeting with top officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

But contrary to Parlade's claims, Robredo is not a frontrunner in the 2022 polls and is even trailing her 2022 rivals by significant margins.

GMA News Online has sought a response from Robredo's camp over Parlade's comments but they have yet to issue a reply as of posting time. — DVM, GMA News