Gabriela ‘part of terrorist organization’ — Parlade

MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. on Friday alleged that women’s group Gabriela is “part of the terrorist organization.”

Parlade made the allegation after he was accused of “red-tagging” actress Liza Soberano when he warned her about engaging with Gabriela.

In an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel, Parlade claimed that Gabriela, especially those nominated as party-list members, are allegedly connected with communists.

“You cannot be nominated as a party list representative of Gabriela, as well as Makabayan bloc member if you are not a hard-bearing member,” he also claimed.

“They cannot deny it, it’s the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) who nominates these people, so are they part of the terrorist organization? Yes, definitely. Definitely,” the military official said.

INQUIRER.net reached out to Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas for comment on Parlade’s remarks but has yet to receive a response as of writing.

Parlade claimed that his Facebook post on Tuesday was to urged Soberano’s critics to stop red-tagging her – or labeling someone as sympathetic to the local communist movement – after she appeared in an online seminar hosted by Gabriela. The military official said the actress is “not yet” part of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Brosas expressed belief that Parlade’s statements involving Soberano were meant to discredit Gabriela despite its background as a staunch women’s rights defender.

“These rabid NTF-ELCAC executives are using their rehashed script to discredit Gabriela Women’s Party despite our long track record of advocating women’s rights,” the congresswoman said in an earlier statement.

“Our 20 years of advancing women and children’s rights inside and outside of Congress cannot be smeared by their repeated lies,” she added.

EDV