Controversial general Antonio Parlade Jr. was appointed as deputy director general of the National Security Council, Malacañang announced on Thursday.
“The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the appointment of Mr. Antonio G. Parlade, Jr. on September 8, 2021, as Deputy Director-General of the National Security Council,”
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.
“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 in the crafting of plans and policies affecting national security. We wish DDG Parlade well in his new assignment,” he added.
Parlade’s new assignment came two months after his resignation as one of the spokespersons of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. Parlade said he quit the post to ease pressures on NTF officials being questioned by lawmakers about his designation as spokesman.
Parlade recently drew criticism from various organizations and lawmakers for alleged red-tagging or linking groups, schools and personalities, including actresses Liza Soberano and Angel Locsin, to communist rebels.
He and fellow spokesperson Presidential Communications Operations Office undersecretary Lorraine Badoy have also been directed to stop making comments about community pantries.
The “gag order” was to avoid giving the impression that they were against the concept of bayanihan (community sharing), which is the basis for the community pantries.
It was also Parlade who, during a Senate hearing, called some senators ‘stupid’ for their failure to recognize the fact that the budget of the much- maligned agency was passed upon and approved by the legislators.