Parlade says PH may need revolutionary gov’t; Lorenzana tells AFP to ‘ignore’ him
MANILA, Philippines — Retired military general Antonio Parlade Jr. on Tuesday took to the streets to protest the alleged corruption in the Commission on Elections (Comelec), saying that the establishment of a “revolutionary government” could solve the corruption in the government.
Parlade, along with some 100 individuals, organized a dialogue in the People Power Monument, according to the Quezon City Police District.
Their banners read “We support [President Rodrigo] Duterte” and “Rev Gov na.”
The retired general and former spokesperson on the anticommunist task force also decried the alleged corruption in the Comelec. It can be recalled that Parlade ran for President but was later disqualified because of a technicality.
He also alleged that they needed to pay “millions” to the Comelec for his candidacy to push through.
READ: Two Marcoses, 13 others make the cut for 2022 presidential polls; Parlade out
“I have personal experience with this, tatakbo ako for this elections sana, pero ayun, kailangan akong magbayad ng ilang milyon para lumusot kami,” Parlade told reporters.
(I was supposed to run in this elections, but I needed to pay millions for my name to push through.)
INQUIRER.net has sought Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez for comment and has yet to receive a reply.
Meanwhile, when asked for comment on Parlade’s demonstration, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “to ignore him, not listen to him.”
AFP spokesperson Col Ramon Zagala also bucked Parlade’s raising the possibility of a revolutionary government, saying the 145,000-strong military personnel remains loyal to the Constitution and the chain of command.
“While the AFP respects the people’s freedom of expression, we do not and will not support extra legal means outside the constitution which we have sworn to protect including the sanctity of the electoral process,” Zagala said in a statement.
The spokesperson reminded military personnel to adhere to the rule of law and always obey the chain of command and whoever is seated as the chief executive.
Zagala added that the AFP “will remain a professional organization that will not engage in partisan politics and will at all times put the interest of the nation before personal views and opinions.”
