Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. has resigned from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
“Yes, I have submitted my letter of resignation addressed to the President almost a month ago,” Parlade said in a text message.
“I want to ease the pressure to the NTF ELCAC principals who are being questioned by legislators for designating me in spite my being in the active service.”
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier revealed that Parlade has left NTF-ELCAC “many weeks ago.”
The Defense chief said he does not know if NTF-ELCAC will hire Parlade again after his retirement on July 26.
“He has resigned from ELCAC many weeks ago. I don’t know if he will be hired by the NTF,” Lorenzana told GMA News Online in a text message.
Parlarde maintained his appointment was constitutional and is glad to have six more civilian spokespersons for the NTF-ELCAC.
“Even then, I want to assure our critics that I am not running away from this fight. As a citizen of this country it behooves on me to continue with my patriotic duty to defend our country and end the 52 years onslaught of the CPP NPA terrorists, whatever legal way I can,” Parlade said.
Parlade resigns as NTF-ELCAC spox
In April, Sen. Panfilo Lacson proposed to include in the Senate resolution to remove Lt Gen Antonio Parlade, Jr. as spokesperson of the NTF-ELCAC.
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.
Parlade and Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy were criticized for red-tagging the community pantry organizer.
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