MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant and former counterinsurgency task force spokesperson retired Lt. Get Antonio Parlade Jr. claims that fellow aspirant Sen. Bong Go “controls the decision” of President Rodrigo Duterte.
While he said he has no rift with Go, Parlade told reporters at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday that “I cannot align with (a) Senator Bong Go. I am sorry, kasama siya sa problema ng bayan natin (He’s part of the problem of our country).”
“Wala akong rift kay Senator Bong Go. I don’t like the way he does things, including controlling the decisions of the president,” he said.
Asked to cite an instance where Go controlled the decision of Duterte, Parlade said: “Ang dami. (There are many instances.) I don’t want to elaborate on that. You ask the AFP, you ask the Philippine Army. You ask the Secretary of National Defense,” Parlade said.
When asked to respond to Duterte’s statement that he is in charge, Parlade replied: “Okay, that’s okay. That’s his prerogative, kung yun ang feeling niya.”
Go, in response, said he is just helping Duterte make a decision.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also released a statement, saying the organization “will remain non-partisan.”
“Our mandate is clear. Our task is to ensure the peace and security of the elections and allow the will of the Filipino people to manifest and prevail,” the AFP said in a statement shortly after Parlade’s revelations.
Parlade filed for president under Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino.