Andronico Del Rosario
After being told to keep his hands off of Liza Soberano, National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon (AFP SolComm) Commander Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr, has turned his attention to the Colmenares family and other members of the Makabayan bloc.
In an interview with ANC, Parlade claimed that the Makabayan bloc—which he consistently referred to as the Kamatayan bloc—had ties to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), particularly former Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares and his aunt, Ella.
Former lawmaker Neri Colmenares and other members of Makabayan bloc are under surveillance for their alleged ties to communist groups, but it is different from the "legal surveillance" that requires a court order under the anti-terror law, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. insists. pic.twitter.com/4MnSVA7nw4
— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) October 26, 2020
“We are sure of it. I’m telling you, they have colleagues before who explained how it works in the CPP-NPA-NDF,” said Parlade during the interview. He did, however, say they still had to “validate the information on the ground”, adding that “people have been clamoring” why the Makabayan bloc has not been charged with involvement in terrorist organizations.
He also clarified that he is not focusing on former Rep. Colmenares or his aunt, Ella Colmenares. “I mentioned him because he is a former Bayan Muna representative. It so happened that he was mentioned because of Ella Colmenares.”
Parlade kept brushing aside questions about the evidence he had on the Colmenares family as well as members of the Makabayan bloc, even as the Department of Justice cleared their names in a missing persons case filed by parents of Alicia Lucena—a case supported both by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the NTF-ELCAC.
JUST IN: DOJ prosecutors dismiss kidnapping, other raps vs ex-Rep. Neri Colmenares, Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago, others over “missing” student-activist filed by parents of Alicia Lucena, PNP-CIDG, supported by NTF-ELCAC. pic.twitter.com/vSodgU0zim
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) October 26, 2020
Parlade also stressed how the NTF-ELCAC should be doing its job because the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020 is now in effect.
“We have to do our job and focus on the right persons as well as implement the law… we have to make sure we have a strong case against these people and organizations who have been declared as terrorists pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 374, series of 2017,” Parlade said.
Illegal surveillance under ATL?
When asked about his knowledge of Republic Act (RA) No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020–particularly Section 17–Parlade dismissed the question.
“Legal surveillance ang sinasabi mo, which the law prescribes,” Parlade told ANC. He even said the military has been doing surveillance work on suspected terrorist groups prior to the passing of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
A quick browse of RA 11479 reveals, however, that Parlade may have been referring to the gathering of evidence instead of actual surveillance. Actual surveillance work would entail a court order according to the Anti-Wire Tapping Law—something that is explicitly stated in Section 16 of the Anti-Terror Law.
Section 17, which was continuously brushed to the side during Parlade’s interview, also states that military or law enforcement personnel have to file an ex parte written application with the Court of Appeals and have their witnesses examined under oath—something which the members of the NTF-ELCAC has yet to do.
Lorenzana: No gag order needed, but proceed with caution
Parlade has been told off by both President Rodrigo Duterte and Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana for his statements against Neri and Ella Colmenares. Lorenzana has arranged a meeting with Parlade and other members of the NTF-ELCAC to discuss how they should go about conducting the task force’s duties as well as issuing statements without factual basis.
Lorenzana, however, said a gag order against Parlade wasn’t necessary and instead told him to proceed with caution if he intends to pursue his crusade against groups and personalities Parlade has linked to the CPP-NPA-NDF.
Parlade, for his part, said Lorenzana has been paying too much attention to the media, and that his statements have been twisted.
The issue at hand began on October 21, when Parlade called out Gabriela partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas for “not informing your recruits about your violent hidden agenda”.
READ | Statement of Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. on Liza Soberano being “red-tagged”
Let us not red-tag Liza Soberano….
Posted by National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict on Wednesday, October 21, 2020
In doing so, he would drag the names of Liza Soberano, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, Angel Locsin, former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, and Ella Colmenares.
The NTF-ELCAC would later clarify that Soberano and Gray were merely given warnings about Gabriela Youth, while the Colmenares family continues to be in Parlade’s crosshairs.
Both the AFP and the Palace have taken a backseat on the matter, adhering instead to the NTF-ELCAC’s statement that one of their spokespersons did not red-tag Liza Soberano or Catriona Gray.
