‘Porque ikaw si Darna, hindi ka na pwedeng magsinungaling’

MANILA, Philippines — “Porque ikaw ay si Darna, hindi ka na pwedeng magsinungaling .”

That was what Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. wishes to debunk as he insisted that actress Angel Locsin was aware of her sister’s alleged involvement with the New People’s Army (NPA).

“Balikan ko yung kuwento tungkol dito kay Ella Colmenares, because this very important especially that we are talking of a celebrity,” Parlade said during the Senate hearing on the alleged red-tagging activities of military officials against celebrities and organizations.

“Ang celebrity, ang daming naaakit niyan…We have to debunk claims na porque ikaw ay isang artista, palagi ka na lang tama. Porque ikaw ay si Darna, hindi ka na pwedeng magsinungaling,” he added.

It was Parlade’s statement in October and the controversy that came after which triggered the investigation of the Senate defense committee on red-tagging.

In that statement, Parlade warned actress Liza Soberano as well as Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray from engaging with women’s group Gabriela. The military official also tagged Colmenares as part of the NPA in the same statement.

During the hearing, Parlade insisted that Colmenares was part of the NPA citing testimonies from “members of the main regional guerrilla unit in Quezon.”

“Pakinggan natin yung testimony ng nakasama ni Ella Colmenres, just an end the issue whether Ella Colmenares, kapatid ni Angel Locsin, ay isang NPA or not,” Parlade said.

Earlier in the inquiry, an alleged former rebel also tagged Colmenares as part of the NPA.

Colmenares already denied such accusations, insisting that she is supportive of women’s rights and not the armed struggle.

Locsin had previously criticized Parlade over his statement, saying his remarks reminded her of the 1920s.

The actress also “set the record straight” where she said she is not part of the NPA, nor does her sister or Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares.

Angel, whose real name is Angelica Locsin Colmenares, is Neri’s aunt.

“Nanawagan po ako sa kinauukulan, na itama po ang mali na ito. Tigilan na po ang red tagging,” Locsin said in an earlier Instagram post.

(I am appealing to the authorities, let us right this wrong. Let us stop red-tagging.)

“The statement made is utterly false and places ordinary citizens like us, those who they swore to protect, in danger,” the actress added.