DND: No gag order vs Parlade

MANILA, Philippines — No gag order has been issued against Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, spokesman for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), but he has been told to be more careful in supposedly “red-tagging” celebrities and other individuals without evidence.

“Yes, I already talked to him,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday following the issue of how actress Liza Soberano and other celebrities were accused of supporting what the government considers as front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

Parlade drew criticism for his statements, which he refused to apologize for, stressing that he did not red-tag celebrities but was merely warning them against associating themselves with groups like Gabriela.

“He would still be doing what he is doing, but would be more careful in accusing people if there is no evidence,” Lorenzana told reporters.

On the issue of Soberano and Catriona Gray, the DND chief said Parlade “was only making them aware of the nature of Gabriela, that it is a front of a terrorist organization.”

Lorenzana said the basis for this is Executive Order 374 issued by President Duterte in 2017, which declares the CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front as terrorist organizations.

Parlade insisted that he supports the advocacy of women’s rights, but said he believes that celebrities should not associate themselves with groups like Gabriela, which he noted had hosted a forum where Soberano was a speaker.

“I did not red-tag anyone. I’m not using and abusing my authority, my position to red-tag these people or harass these women. No, I am supporting their advocacy,” he said.