Lacson insist Parlade should be removed from NTF-ELCAC

Sen. Panfilo Lacson proposed this Tuesday to include in the Senate resolution to remove Lt Gen Antonio Parlade, Jr. as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

“Iminungkahi ko kay Sen. [Franklin] Drilon na isama sa resolution, kasi hindi naisama yung pagiging apolitical, yun apolitical nature ng armed forces. Sabi ko, importanteng maisama yun,” said Lacson.

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Lacson was one of 14 senators who supported Drilon’s resolution punishing Parlade after calling them “stupid.”

“Mostly, ang resolution ay censure. Yung senado mismo, ise-censure dapat si Gen. Parlade. Pero, sabi ko nga, mas importante na i-recall siya sa armed forces para bahala yung armed forces mag-censure sa kaniya o defense department,” said Lacson.

Lacson asserted that the appointment of Parlade as spokesperson of the NTF-ELCAC was unconstitutional. This was also said by Drilon, a former Secretary of the Department of Justice.

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“Unconstitutional, eh. Pangalawa, unconstitutional na nga, ginugulo pa niya,” said Lacson.

Parlade and Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy were criticized for red-tagging the community pantry organizer.

Lacson insist Parlade should be removed from NTF-ELCAC

“Wala talaga sa katwiran, sabihin na nating ganun. Hindi natin alam kung anong motibo nilang dalawa, kung bakit sinisilip pa nila nang pilit at iniuugnay sa CPP-NPA yung community pantry,” said Lacson.

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But Lacson knows that the last step in the issue is President Rodrigo Duterte as chairman of NTF-ELCAC.

“Anong magagawa ng Senado, Kongreso? May panawagan na i-zero budget namin sa isang taon. Yung iba, ang panawagan i-defund. Pero, pag i-defund, ang pwede lang mag-realign ng item sa budget, yung Pangulo rin kasi naipasa na yung budget. ‘Pag zero budget next year, kaya naming gawin yun; walang ire-realign kasi ‘pag zero budget, walang item,” said ni Lacson.

He insisted that the development programs in the barangay be properly funded so that the insurgency can be ended.

“First time na napondohan ang Barangay Development Program. Pang 2021 lang yan. Hindi pa ito nagkaroon ng pondo noong nakaraang taon. Hindi pa ito nai-implement kasi kaka-first quarter pa lang natin. Ngayon pa lang nagre-release ang DBM (Department of Budget and Mangement). Yan ang subaybayan natin kung talagang naimplementa nang maayos yun, once na ma-release ng DBM yung pondo sa mga LGUs. ‘Yan ang dapat i-monitor kung napunta ba talaga sa mga items na nakalista,” he said.

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