From Alfred Dalizon’s column in People’s Journal: “While I share with them the same advocacy and passion in ending the insurgency problem, I enjoin them to focus on the enemy without harassing those of us who put our lives on the line while serving in the AFP and PNP,” Lacson said.
Continue reading “Known CPP/NPA fighters Magalong, Lacson vs Badoy, Celiz [People’s Journal]”
It is dangerous to confuse speaking the loudest with speaking the ‘unequivocal’ truth.
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) as conceptualized was an excellent weapon aimed at ending the longest running insurgency in the world.
Well said. I could not agree more with the statement of the NTF-ELCAC.*
Senator Legarda is a friend and I respect her opinion but I cannot for the life of me agree with her stand, apparently articulated by her statement that the CPP-NPA-NDF is not an enemy of the state. Simply put, an armed terrorist group — already designated not only by the government of the Republic of the Philippines but also by the European Union, the United States of America and four other countries (Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand) — is unequivocally an enemy of the state.
That being said, any attempt to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act is a disrespect to our comrades-in-arms as well as the countless civilians who fell victims to the atrocities of this terrorist group that has lost its ideological principles over the years – they murder, they rob, they extort, they harass and intimidate and worse, indiscriminately.
Having authored and sponsored and almost single-handedly defended the legislative measure in the Senate plenary, as well as in the battle for public opinion in many fora including the media, I will not hesitate to be part of the opposition to thwart moves to amend this law in its substantive form which no less than the Supreme Court has declared as constitutional.
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Continue reading “On Senator Legarda’s ‘Stand’ that the CPP-NDF is Not an Enemy of the State”
Use it or lose it, as former Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno once said.
Misused funds are far worse than unused appropriations. If the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee himself asserts that those entrusted to utilize the NTF-ELCAC funds cannot even provide the details on how they spent the same, they have no business asking for more.
That being said, not only do I support the slash in the NTF-ELCAC’s proposed budget for 2022, if such misuse was indeed committed – the officials concerned must be made accountable, if not criminally liable.
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Nakakabahala.
Ito ang naging paglalarawan ni Senador Panfilo Lacson sa pag-amin ni Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar sa nagaganap na data-gathering activities sa ilang mga barangay sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa.
Bagama’t una na ito pinabulaanan ng PNP, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang nabanggit na aktibidad, batay sa huling impormasyong nakakarating kay Lacson na namuno sa ahensiya mula 1999 hanggang 2001.
“The Chief PNP’s admission that such data-gathering activities are going on (and still going on, as per latest information received) is alarming. Being their former chief, I cannot allow the PNP to engage in partisan politics and be ‘bastardized’, worse – using public funds,” banggit ni Lacson sa kanyang Twitter account.
Read in ENGLISH: Lacson Alarmed over PNP Chief’s Admission of ‘Data-Gathering’ Activities
Continue reading “Ping Nabahala sa Pagkumpirma ng PNP Chief sa ‘Data-Gathering’”
Alarming.
This was how Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson described on Tuesday the admission by Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar that there are “data-gathering” activities in several barangays nationwide.
Citing the latest information reaching him, Lacson – who headed the PNP from 1999 to 2001 – also said such activities are still ongoing, amid the PNP’s initial denial.
“The Chief PNP’s admission that such data-gathering activities are going on (and still going on, as per latest information received) is alarming. Being their former chief, I cannot allow the PNP to engage in partisan politics and be ‘bastardized’, worse – using public funds,” Lacson said on his Twitter account.
Basahin sa TAGALOG: Ping Nabahala sa Pagkumpirma ng PNP Chief sa ‘Data-Gathering’
Continue reading “Lacson Alarmed over PNP Chief’s Admission of ‘Data-Gathering’ Activities”
From the Inquirer: As the country moves closer to the 2022 general elections, while the replacement of President Rodrigo Duterte is uncertain, there’s one thing definite about what the next president would face—a mountain of debt.
Dapat matigil na ang pagsasagawa ng “census” sa ilang barangay gamit ang pondo ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), kasunod ng pagtanggi ng mismong pamunuan ng Philippine National Police (PNP) na pinapayagan nito ang aktibidad na ito.
Ito ang mensahe ni Senador Panfilo Lacson, kasunod na rin ng mga impormasyon na kanyang natatanggap tungkol sa “census” mula mismo sa mga field commanders ng PNP.
Ayon kay Lacson, bilang pangunahing sponsor sa Senado ng badyet ng NTF-ELCAC, hindi niya puwedeng ipagkibit-balikat na lamang ang ganitong impormasyon.
“The PNP’s denial should put a stop to the illegal data gathering activities on 30% of the country’s local population. As the Senate’s principal sponsor of the NTF-ELCAC budget, I cannot simply disregard a pattern of such reports coming from their own field commanders,” banggit ni Lacson sa Twitter.
Read in ENGLISH: Lacson: PNP Denial Should End Illegal Data-Gathering Using NTF-ELCAC Funds
Continue reading “Ping: Dahil Itinanggi ng PNP, Illegal Data-Gathering Gamit ang Pondo ng NTF-ELCAC Itigil Na”
The denial by the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership that it authorized reported “census” activities in some barangays using funds of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) should put an end to such data-gathering, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson said he cannot simply disregard such reports since he is the principal sponsor of the NTF-ELCAC’s budget in the Senate – especially if the reports originate from the PNP’s own field commanders.
“The PNP’s denial should put a stop to the illegal data gathering activities on 30% of the country’s local population. As the Senate’s principal sponsor of the NTF-ELCAC budget, I cannot simply disregard a pattern of such reports coming from their own field commanders,” Lacson, who headed the PNP from 1999 to 2001, said in a post on his Twitter account.
Basahin sa TAGALOG: Ping: Dahil Itinanggi ng PNP, Illegal Data-Gathering Gamit ang Pondo ng NTF-ELCAC Itigil Na
Continue reading “Lacson: PNP Denial Should End Illegal Data-Gathering Using NTF-ELCAC Funds”
Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. made me aware of his resignation letter more than a month ago when he paid me a courtesy visit in my Senate office. I thanked and commended him even as that resignation was still subject to the approval of higher authorities.
There is no question about his passion to do his role in ending the longest-running insurgency in Asia, and I still believe that the NTF-ELCAC is a long overdue solution to the “water lily” tactical maneuvers being employed by the CPP-NPA to maintain their influence over previously cleared barangays.
I too believe that without infrastructure, livelihood and social development interventions by the national government after all successful counter-insurgency operations by our security forces in clearing those barangays of the NPA presence, it can only result in a Sisyphus-like situation with no clear solution in sight.
That said, the Senate’s legal position on the issue is clear – that his appointment as an active military officer in a civilian position is clearly proscribed by the Constitution, and whatever legal discussion or debate on his official designation in a civilian office while still in the active military service has now become moot and academic. I am glad it has ended that way.
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Since the time the NTF-ELCAC was created, being the principal sponsor of their annual budget, I have been their most reliable ally in the Senate – until now.
That said, there’s no point discussing, much less arguing with people who refuse to listen to reason and adhere to the rule of law. The Senate as an institution has made our collective and legal position on the issue of the appointment of Parlade as an active military officer in a civilian position – which the Constitution clearly proscribes.
All I can say is: They made their choice, and it will cost them.
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Hindi maabuso ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) ang bilyun-bilyong pisong pondong inilaan ng gobyerno sa pagpapaunlad sa mga komunidad na nalinis na mula sa impluwensiya ng New People’s Army (NPA).
Ito ang tugon ni Senate Committee on National Defense Chairman Panfilo Lacson sa mga mambabatas na nagnanais na tanggalan ng pondo ang NTF-ELCAC, kasabay ng pagsasabing mga lokal na pamahalaan (LGU) ang mangangasiwa sa paggastos sa mga ito para sa mga proyektong pangkaunlaran.
Nasa P9.699 bilyon na mula sa kabuuang P16.4 bilyon ang nailalabas na pondo para sa pagpapaunlad ng mga barangay na nalinis na sa dating pamamayagpag at impluwensiya ng nabanggit na grupo.
“Being the sponsor of the NTF-ELCAC’s 2021 budget, it is my obligation and responsibility to defend the Department of Budget and Management’s release of funds which will be implemented not by the NTF-ELCAC but by the local government units concerned,” paliwanag ni Lacson na siya ring sponsor ng gastusin ng Department of National Defense (DND) at mga ahensiya nito para sa kasalukuyang taon.
Related: Lacson: No Way Can NTF-ELCAC Abuse Funds for NPA-Cleared Barangays
Continue reading “Ping: Pondo ng NTF-ELCAC sa NPA-Cleared Barangays, LGUs ang Mangangasiwa”
Some P9.699 billion has been released so far for the development of barangays that have been cleared of the influence of the New People’s Army (NPA), but this – or the full P16.4-billion allocation for 2021 – cannot be “abused” by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said.
Lacson gave this assurance to fellow lawmakers who are asking to defund NTF-ELCAC, even as he stressed the amount would eventually be released to the local government units that will implement the development projects.
“Being the sponsor of the NTF-ELCAC’s 2021 budget, it is my obligation and responsibility to defend the Department of Budget and Management’s release of funds which will be implemented not by the NTF-ELCAC but by the local government units concerned,” said Lacson, who chairs the Senate’s Committee on National Defense and who sponsored the budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) and its attached agencies for 2021.
Related: Ping: Pondo ng NTF-ELCAC sa NPA-Cleared Barangays, LGUs ang Mangangasiwa
Continue reading “Lacson: No Way Can NTF-ELCAC Abuse Funds for NPA-Cleared Barangays”
NTF-ELCAC vice chairperson Sec. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. should just read Article XVI, Sec 5, paragraph 4 of the 1987 Constitution when he decides on the fate of Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. as NTF-ELCAC spokesperson. He may not even need one week to review.
The said provision in the Constitution is clear: “No member of the armed forces in the active service shall, at any time, be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations or any of their subsidiaries.”
As such, Sec. Esperon and Malacañang’s legal staff can simply ask themselves the question: is NTF-ELCAC a civilian office or a unit of the AFP?
Meanwhile, Art. XVI, Sec. 3 of the Constitution also decrees that the armed forces shall be insulated from partisan politics. As such, “no member of the military shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any partisan political activity, except to vote.”
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The issue goes beyond the attacks issued by Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. on the organizers of community pantries as well as against the members of the Senate. A temporary ‘gag order’ is thus not the appropriate response.
In the first place, as an active member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Parlade “cannot be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the Government,” according to Art. XVI, Sec. 5, Paragraph 4 of no less than the 1987 Constitution.
That said, the AFP/DND should have heeded the call of the Senate to immediately recall him back to the AFP more than a month ago. He should be censured for dabbling in politics instead of just focusing on his inherent mission as commanding general of the Southern Luzon Command – that is, to fight threats such as terrorism and insurgency.
Meanwhile, as far as Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy is concerned, her political statements are her and the NTF-ELCAC’s responsibility to the Filipino people.
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To The Manila Times: Please allow us to set the record straight regarding the column of Mauro Gia Samonte last April 24, where he claimed Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson made a “turnabout” by recommending the relief of Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. as spokesperson of the NTF-ELCAC.
No thanks to the “loose lips” of its spokesperson, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) may find its budget for 2022 in deep trouble, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson said that while he believes the NTF-ELCAC is doing well in terms of developing areas cleared of the New People’s Army, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr.’s recent political statements threaten to take away those gains.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines must remain apolitical. Otherwise, the constitutional balance among institutions is skewed and democratic governance is disturbed and even threatened. Lt. Gen. Parlade should just focus on ending insurgency and fighting terrorism. When he retires, he can debate all he wants on political issues,” Lacson said.
“Because of his commentaries, the NTF-ELCAC is dragged into controversies. Nauuna ang bibig niya sa kanyang ginagawa. Yan ang danger, kasi nakakagulo na. Instead of helping, his loose lips threaten to drag the NTF-ELCAC into the mess,” he added, in an interview on DWIZ radio.
Continue reading “Lacson: Parlade’s ‘Loose Lips’ Dragging NTF-ELCAC into Trouble”
Since 2016, I have been defending the budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) and all its attached agencies. Last year, I stubbornly fought to retain the P16.5-billion anti-insurgency fund of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for 2021, arguing that it was intended for development programs, activities and projects in areas that had been cleared of the presence of the New People’s Army (NPA), and not for armed anti-insurgency operations.
Early this year, the Senate approved in plenary my Committee’s recommendations on the red-tagging issue – including the immediate relief of Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. as spokesperson of NTF-ELCAC, not only because his civilian position is violative of the Constitution. He has in fact, on many occasions, become a “liability” to the overall efforts of the government, as well as the government’s position on the pending 37 petitions against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 before the Supreme Court, mainly due to his careless remarks and flawed interpretation of certain provisions of the law.
Unfortunately, the DND has openly ignored the Senate in that regard. Thus, I am not sure if I will still defend their budget this year with the same tenacity as I did the previous years – especially if the NTF-ELCAC spokesperson continues to threaten to affect its mission with uncalled-for statements.
I’ll join Senate President Sotto’s call to retain the P16.4-billion allocations to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
The fund is not even at the disposal of the security sector since it is part of the Special Purpose Fund under the Assistance to Local Government Units (ALGU) and is intended to hold and develop barangays that are cleared of New People’s Army (NPA) influence.
As such, it will go to development programs such as farm-to-market roads and livelihood, as part of confidence-building to prevent the insurgency problem from returning.
With this, affected barangays will no longer be vulnerable to attempts by the NPA to recruit members especially from indigenous peoples. Pagkakataon ito pati sa mga NPA sa mga lugar na ito na magbagong-buhay.
The insurgency problem is more than 50 years old, easily the oldest in Asia. It is time we take the needed steps to address the insurgency problem.
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Sen. Lacson chaired the Senate hearing on red-tagging and red-baiting, as chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation.
MORE DETAILS:
Continue reading “Senate Committee Hearing on ‘Red-Tagging’”
Lt. Gen. Parlade strikes me as one AFP officer who is dedicated to the accomplishment of his mission to end the half-century-old insurgency problem.
That being said, his only fault is that he over-analyzes and over-talks, with some of his public statements threatening to affect his mission.
Under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, only the court can proscribe a group like the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization. On the other hand, the purpose of surveillance work is defeated when the subject becomes aware that he is being tailed.
Maybe a little prudence and self-discipline on Lt. Gen. Parlade’s part will help.
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