Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco. Photo from the Office of Cong. Velasco
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Tuesday chided Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. for red-tagging some members of the House of Representatives.
Velasco said Parlade’s “careless accusations” imperils the lives of the elected officials. He then challenged the high-ranking military official that if he has evidence against the House members, he should bring it to court and not to the media.
“As Speaker of the House, I am duty-bound to protect them from potential harm due to these careless accusations so that they may carry their legal and constitutional mandate as members of Congress,” Velasco noted in a statement.
“General Parlade should be more circumspect and cautious in issuing statements against House members whose lives he may place at great risk and danger sans strong evidence,” he added.
Velasco was referring to members of the House’s Makabayan bloc that includes Bayan Muna Representatives Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, and Eufemia Cullamat; Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas; ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro; and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago.
In an interview with ABS-CBN Teleradyo, Parlade admitted that the Makabayan bloc lawmakers are under surveillance for their alleged ties with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA).
READ: State surveillance of lawmakers is unconstitutional – Makabayan
“We may not agree with them on certain issues, but be mindful that these lawmakers are duly elected representatives of the people, and implicating them on issues that have yet to be substantiated is uncalled for,” Velasco said.
“I hope he will refrain from issuing unrestrained statements that also carry serious repercussions,” added the Speaker, who also blasted Parlade’s red-tagging of celebrities who are only “speaking their minds and promoting their advocacies.”
“If he has evidence, gather them and go to court, and not to the media,” he further said.
House Minority floor leader and Abang Lingkod Rep. Stephen Paduano has also defended the Makabayan lawmakers. He said Parlade should file a case against the lawmakers if he has enough evidence at hand to prove his accusations or he might as well shut up.
KGA
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