OSG to SC: PARLADE’S FB POST NOT Govt STAND

The petitioners also asked the Court to direct the OSG to give Parlade’s basis for issuing such statements including details on the source, circumstances behind and intent.

Parlade is the current Commander of the Southern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and member of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (Ntf-elcac).

Parlade made the post a few days prior to the January 19 oral argument on the petitions questioning the legality of the Anti-terror Law.

“The SC will soon be hearing petitions against the Anti-terror Law. Let’s be watchful of these individuals, groups, and organizations opposing a law that will protect our citizens from terrorists. What’s their agenda?” Parlade’s post read.

He did not say who he was referring to in the post.

“According to the AFP and the Ntf-elcac, the subject Facebook post is not the official statement or action of the AFP nor of the Ntfelcac,” Calida said in his comment.

“Accordingly, the AFP and the Ntf-elcac have no policy against any dissenters of any law enacted and being implemented by the government. Both agencies, in fact, remain committed to upholding the rule of law, protecting the constitutional rights of every Filipino, and serving the best interest of the country,” he added.

Calida noted that the Facebook post did not bear the logo of the said agencies.

“The AFP and Ntf-elcac, clearly, have no personal knowledge on the circumstances and intent behind its alleged posting,” he said.

Calida added the Facebook post does not intend to interfere with the SC’S power to administer justice nor violate the rights of petitioners, of Carpio, Morales and other petitioners, under Section 4 of the Bill of Rights.

“There can be no violation of the Bill of Rights when committed by a private individual,” Calida asserted.

Extension sought

MEANWHILE, the OSG has also asked the SC for a 30-day extension, or until April 23, to file its Comment on the renewed motions for TRO against the implementation of the ATA of 2020 on the ground of supervening events.

The OSG said it could not submit on time the Comment/opposition because it was still coordinating with the respondents, some of whom needed more time to fully address the OSG’S inquiries and allegations raised by the petitioners.

“Consequently, the OSG is constrained to request for an additional time within which to file the required Comment/opposition,” Calida explained.

“The OSG assures that the instant motion is not intended to delay but is prompted by the aforementioned circumstances and by a sincere desire to submit a responsive and comprehensive Comment/opposition that will aid this Honorable Court in resolving the present matter,” he added.

In pressing the Court to issue a TRO against the ATA of 2020, the petitioners raised several supervening events such as Parlade’s FB post and the arrest of Chad Errol Booc, a volunteer teacher; and Windel Bolinget, chairman of the Cordillera People’s Alliance.

Booc and Bolinget are among the petitioners seeking to strike down ATA.

The petitioners also cited the freezing of assets of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), another petitioner.

The RMP faces civil forfeiture proceedings before the Anti-money Laundering Council (AMLC) based on the claim that the religious group and its chapters have been providing financial and material support to the Communist Party of the Philippines-new People’s Army (CPPNPA), which has been declared as a designated terrorist organization by the Anti-terrorism Council (ATC).