Parlade is back, this time as National Security Council deputy chief

FILE PHOTO: Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB File)

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former counter-insurgency task force spokesperson Antonio Parlade Jr. as National Security Council Deputy Director-General, Malacañang said Thursday.

“The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the appointment of Mr. Antonio G. Parlade, Jr. yesterday, September 8, 2021, as Deputy Director-General of the National Security Council,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

“Deputy Director-General Parlade faithfully served the Armed Forces of the Philippines for many years until his retirement from the service.  We are therefore confident that his length of fruitful service in the military would immensely contribute to the crafting of plans and policies affecting national security. We wish DDG Parlade well in his new assignment,” he added.

It was in July when Parlade resigned as National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spokesperson.

Parlade, who was a commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Southern Luzon Command, also retired from military service the same month.

He received heavy criticism for linking organizations, lawmakers, celebrities, and journalists to communist rebels.

The NSC, a government agency under the Office of the President, coordinates and integrates national security policies.

This body, led by the president, includes leaders of the Congress, members of the Cabinet, and even former presidents.

In May, former Senator Rodolfo Biazon called to convene the NSC amid the Philippine government’s “confusing” stand on the West Philippine Sea issue.

But Malacañang said President Duterte thinks the NSC has “resolved nothing” in instances where he attended.