‘AFP image tarnished as long as Parlade remains’

MANILA, Philippines — Senators were disappointed with Malacañang’s stand on controversies involving Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. but expressed belief the widely criticized Army general would still be booted out of an anti-communist task force.

“The longer he stays on, the longer he tarnishes the image and reputation of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) as a highly disciplined and professional institution,” Sen. Francis Pangilinan said.

Parlade is the spokesman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), a private organization.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the committee on national defense and security and among the strongest critics of Parlade, said the general is retiring soon, and therefore “it may be worthless to file a quo warranto petition at this point.”

He said a majority of senators have already spoken and expressed their collective sentiment to censure Parlade, in a resolution.

Lacson said he has spoken with National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on possible course of action to be taken on Parlade with regard to his post at NTF-ELCAC, but declined to give details. “I’d rather wait for that official action to take place,” Lacson said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he still believes in the mandate of the task force even as he pointed out that its funding is not handled by its officials but goes directly to local government units. “That’s why I said, remove the talkatives but not the program,” Sotto told reporters.