MANILA, Philippines — In a show of unity, 15 proadministration and opposition senators on Tuesday moved to reprimand Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. for calling them “stupid” in response to their threat to defund the anticommunist task force over the military officer’s “Red-tagging” of some community pantry organizers. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon led their colleagues in filing proposed Senate Resolution No. In a television interview on April 22, Parlade said that it would be stupid for the senators to defund the task force after they approved its budget last year. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Parlade said he wasn’t “backing down,” but apologized to senators whom he “inadvertently” insulted. What about senators who think I’m getting paid by the NTF?” he said, referring to his earlier statement that he was not receiving extra pay for his job as task force spokesperson.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 27, 2021 21:09 UTC