Palace accepts Parlade’s resignation as NTF-ELCAC spokesperson
President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the resignation of Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade as the spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Palace spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed in the televised press briefing today that Duterte has already accepted Parlade’s resignation from the counter-insurgency task force.
“That’s what I was able to confirm from [Defense] Secretary Lorenzana,” Roque said.
Parlade has figured in a number of red-tagging controversies after he received flak for linking celebrities, journalists, activists, and even lawmakers to the communist party.
In a statement, Parlade said he submitted his resignation letter almost a month ago.
“I want to ease the pressure on the NTF-ELCAC principals who are being questioned by legislators for designating me as spokesman despite my being in active service. There are so many legal bases justifying my role in NTF-ELCAC as constitutional, but I will not belabor myself with those,” Parlade mentioned.
Parlade is set to retire on July 26 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. He has also red-tagged the founder of the first community pantry, Ana Patricia Non, and likened the initiative to Satan, leading some lawmakers to move for the defunding of the NTF-ELCAC.
(Thumbnail and banner photo from AFP handout.)