Parlade retires from service

MANILA, Philippines — After serving the military for 38 years, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. – the controversial spokesman for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) – has retired.

Parlade officially vacated his post as chief of the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) following a ceremony at Camp Nakar in Quezon province on Sunday.

The general was known for tagging certain people and progressive party-list groups in the House of Representatives as fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.

Lawmakers questioned Parlade’s designation as NTF-ELCAC spokesman, saying it violated the law on appointments of active military officials to additional positions.

Despite the controversy, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said Parlade made notable achievements Solcom commander.

“Solcom, under Lt. Gen. Parlade, ensured that the people of Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region are free from the influence of the enemies of the state,” Sobejana said.

Parlade, a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Hinirang” Class of 1987, was replaced by Maj. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, former commander of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division.