Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. remains as spokesperson of the counter-insurgency NTF-ELCAC and now shares mouthpiece duties with seven others, the task force vice chairman said Monday.
The bigger communications team aims to foster a "focused discourse and engagement with the public" based on themes, said National Security Advisor Hermogenes Esperon Jr. The pool retains Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy and now includes Asec. Celine Pialago of the MMDA.
The pool of NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) spokespersons and their assigned themes are as follows:
- Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. (Security Sector Operations)
- Usec. Lorraine Badoy (Social Media Affairs, Sectoral Concerns)
- Usec. Jonathan Malaya (Local Government Affairs, Barangay Development Program, International Engagement)
- Usec. Severo Catura (International Affairs, Peace Process, Human Rights Concerns)
- Usec. Jose Joel Sy Egco (Mass Media Engagements, Fact-Checker)
- Asec. Celine Pialago (NTF-ELCAC Public Affairs and Information, Youth Concerns)
- Marlon Bosantog (Legal Affairs, Indigenous Peoples Concerns)
- Gaye Florendo (Assistant Spokesperson on NTF-ELCAC Public Affairs and on Indigenous Peoples Concerns)
The Senate earlier adopted a resolution which includes a recommendation to remove Parlade as NTF-ELCAC spokesperson following the chamber's inquiry on red-tagging. The army general has been accused of red-tagging celebrities like Liza Soberano, Angel Locsin, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, and Inquirer.net journalist Tetch Torres-Tupas.
MORE ON GEN. PARLADE:
Parlade to Critics: Who are You Calling Stupid?
What Does General Parlade Think About Making Friends to Win Battles?
Parlade Made 'Clear Threats' vs Journalist, Ex-Justice Carpio Tells SC
Catriona Gray Gets Apology From Army General Parlade in Red-Tagging Row
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, who introduced the recommendation, said Parlade's appointment as NTF-ELCAC spokesperson violates Article XVI, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution which states that no active member of the armed forces may be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the government.
Esperon said Parlade was not covered by the prohibition since the NTF-ELCAC spokesperson post is neither a plantilla position nor a career executive service one, which he said is the definition of a civilian post under Executive Order 371, series of 1989.
"General Parlade is not receiving any pay and allowances for this extra job and he is not occupying a plantilla position," he added.
Apart from being a spokesperson of the NTF-ELCAC, Parlade also serves as commander of the Philippine Army's Southern Luzon Command.
