Parlade: Lack of enabling laws hindering intel ops vs. Reds, terrorists

Armed Forces' Southern Luzon Command chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. on Tuesday admitted that there are gaps in the intelligence operations of the anti-insurgency task force due to lack of enabling laws.

Parlade, spokesperson of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), said the security sector cannot rely on the Human Security Act as he justified the need of the Anti –Terrorism Act of 2020, which is now being challenged before the Supreme Court.

“First of all, we don’t have that enabling law to really help the security sector do their job. We cannot rely on that Human Security Act,” he said in an interview on ANC.

He cited the now-terminated agreement between the University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense as one of the reasons behind "gaps" in intelligence as it prevented state forces from entering UP campuses without prior notice.

“Gaps? Yes. The UP-DND accord that prevented us from engaging student council, maybe teachers, and their administrators because of that,” Parlade said.

“Ito ‘yun. Ang dami nating gaps. Hindi mapunuan ang alam natin tungkol sa kalaban although we know they are there,” he added.

Parlade made the statement when asked about the reputation of NTF-ELCAC when it comes to accuracy after it linked many personalities and groups to communist rebels.

In October last year, Parlade associated actresses Angel Locsin and Liza Soberano with communist rebels. The two denied the allegations that drove several personalities and groups to accuse Parlade of "red-tagging."

In January this year, Parlade named 18 schools that the Armed Forces of the Philippines identified as recruitment grounds for communist rebels. The schools also denied it.

Recently, AFP’s Civil-Military Operations Office (J7) apologized for "inconsistencies" in the list of students who allegedly joined the New People's Army that they published online

The apology came after some people included in the list denied the allegation.

“Hindi natin mapunuan kasi we are not equipped with these tools. We are not provided with enabling laws. Talagang malaki ang pagkukulang nito,” Parlade said.

‘‘Yan ang comment niya’

Meanwhile, Parlade would not respond directly to the criticisms of  Senator Panfilo Lacson and Kabataan partylist Representative Sarah Elago over his controversial pronouncements.

“I cannot comment on the statement of Senator Lacson. ‘Yan ang comment niya. What can I do about that? But for me to say that this is not helping, I don’t know really,” said the NTF-ELCAC spokesperson.

“But of course, the senators are entitled to their own opinion. I don’t want my comments to affect the Anti-Terror Law, but I’d like this to help the magistrate in decision making.

Earlier, Lacson said Parlade’s threat to sue a journalist over a news report on alleged torture was damaging to the government’s argument that the Anti-Terrorism law was legal.

In a Facebook post, Parlade earlier denounced Inquirer.net’s 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.

“Congratulations for a sloppy work Tetch Torres-Tupas of Inquirer.net. You did not even bother to check the side of the AFP and gov't if what you are reporting is true or FAKE. Propagandista. No such thing happened. That unit is not even there but in Davao,” Parlade said.

When asked by a netizen if charges could be filed against Torres-Tupas, Parlade replied: “Aiding the terrorists by spreading lies? Puwede.”

Parlade subsequently apologized to the journalist.

Meanwhile,  Rep. Elago filed a resolution condemning the NTF-ELCAC and Parlade over the supposed red-tagging of several colleges and universities.

Elago pointed out that Parlade's action was risky under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, as mere suspicion can result in unjust detention.

In December last year, Elago sued Palade and other officials for grave misconduct and malfeasance over these officials’ tagging of Elago as a communist and terrorist.

Parlade said he was ready to face these accusations.

“Ilang beses na namin sila (Makabayan Bloc) inimbita for a dialogue. Hindi sila humaharap. Ilang beses namin sila inimbita for a debate, hindi sila humaharap,” Parlade said.

“And yet paulit-ulit ‘yang red-tagging na ‘yan,” he added. —Joviland Rita/KBK/DVM, GMA News