Senate panel report into AFP’s red-tagging out next week

MANILA, Philippines — The report of the Senate national defense committee on its investigation into the alleged red-tagging activities by the military is expected to be presented in plenary next week.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, in a message to reporters Wednesday, said he will be routing the committee report to senators for signature next week.

“I told my staff yesterday, with or without any response from the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and/or the universities to our query on the list of ‘students’ recruited and killed, I intend to route the committee report and report the same out on the floor next week,” the senator said.

The list he was referring to was the one released by the AFP Information Exchange last Jan. 22 naming supposed “UP students who became NPA (died or captured).”

The AFP Information Exchange has since apologized for the “inconsistencies” in the list and has taken down the post.

Aside from the apology, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana relieved Maj. Gen. Alex Luna from his post as deputy chief of staff for intelligence following the publication of the erroneous list.

Lacson’s committee launched its red-tagging investigation late last year. The probe was triggered by Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr.’s Facebook post warning actress Liza Soberano against being involved with Gabriela Women’s Party-list.

Parlade, who also serves as the spokesperson of the Duterte administration’s anti-insurgency task force, recently came under fire over his remarks against INQUIRER.net reporter Tetch Torres-Tupas, whom the military official earlier dubbed a “propagandist.”

Parlade has apologized for dragging the NTF-Elcac with his supposed personal remarks and said he meant no harm to the journalist.

EDV