Drilon seeks NTF-ELCAC allocation audit

Parlade’s ‘stupid’ remark elicits stinging rebuke from senator.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Friday he will compel the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to fully account for its P19-billion budget.

“These are not small funds. They may use them in aid of the 2022 election,” said Drilon, adding the NTF-ELCAC is required to submit a quarterly report to Congress on how the funds are used.

That reportorial requirement is stated in a provision of the 2021 General Appropriations Act, Drilon said.

Drilon also got back at NTFELCAC spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade for tagging as “stupid” the senators calling for the task force’s defunding.

“Who’s stupid, the government agency that’s doing its job or the senators who approved the budget for it?” asked Drilon.

“I was objecting to this (task force’s budget) from day one. It’s on record. I have been objecting to it. It’s really disrespectful to say the least if Parlade said we are stupid for passing this,” Drilon said.

Calls had been made, including by some lawmakers, for the defunding of NTF-Elcac over questioned activities like redtagging.

The day before, Drilon challenged President Rodrigo Duterte to realigned NTF-ELCAC’s budget towards Covid-related expenditures.

Sens. Risa Hontiveros, Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian and Richard Gordon have joined the chorus for stripping the task force of funding in reaction to alleged “red-tagging” statements by Parlade.

The Senate last month adopted a panel committee report that recommended Parlade’s removal as spokesperson of NTF-ELCAC on questions over the constitutionality of his designation.

The report cited Article 16, Sec. 5 (4) of the 1987 Constitution that says, “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.”