Senator Panfilo Lacson said he was glad to hear from a military official that her future “inaanak” (goddaughter) in wedding actress Angel Locsin was not part of the New People’s Army (NPA).
During Tuesday’s Senate defense committee hearing on the alleged red-tagging of celebrities and organization by military officials, Lacson said he was one of the principal sponsors or “ninong” at Angel Locsin and Neil Arce’s wedding.
The senator asked Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. about the latter’s controversial statement, which, among others, said Locsin’s sister, Ella Colmenares, as a member of the NPA.
“I also mentioned Ella Colmenares because it’s really true that Ella is an NPA. I never said that Angel Locsin is an NPA,” Parlade told the Senate committee.
“Ang statement niya [Locsin], sinasabi niya na hindi raw siya NPA. I never said that she is an NPA. No, I never said that,” the SolCom chief said.
Lacson responded, “I’m glad you mentioned in your own words that Angel Locsin is not an NPA. I’ll make a disclosure. Her fiancé, Neil Arce is a family friend. As a matter of fact, pag kinasal yun kukunin akong ninong [if they got married, they’re getting me to be principal sponsor]. I’m just making a disclosure. I’m glad that you mentioned that she is not an NPA.”
“And I hope she’s monitoring para malaman niya na sayo [Parlade] mismo nanggaling na hindi siya NPA. And I think she will feel relieved coming from you na hindi siya NPA,” Lacson added.
Lacson glad future ‘inaanak’ Angel Locsin cleared of NPA ties
(So she will know directly from you that she’s not a member of the NPA.)
Meanwhile, Makabayan bloc lawmakers and Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares skipped the Senate committee’s hearing on the military’s alleged red-tagging.
Lacson said militant groups such as Bayan Muna, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Kabataan, Gabriela “did not confirm their attendance for still unknown reasons” despite receiving the invitation to the red-tagging hearing.
Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares also requested that another hearing be conducted but without the presence of the military, particularly Southern Luzon Command chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr., Lacson said.