Military intelligence chief sacked over misinformation in list of alleged communist rebels
MANILA, Philippines — Maj. Gen. Alex Luna has been relieved as armed forces deputy chief for intelligence over the publication of an incorrect list of alleged communist rebels who the military claimed were killed or captured.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed this in a statement sent to reporters Thursday afternoon. "I am relieving MGen Alex Luna from his post as Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, J2, effective today (28 Jan 2021)," he wrote.
To recall, a Facebook page named “Armed Forces of the Philippines Information Exchange” published a list of 28 supposed UP alumni who, they claimed, went on to join the NPA.
However, those on the list who were neither dead nor captured by the military, prompting them to come out in a press conference held by the Right to Know Right Now Coalition to deny the allegations made and cast fear over the possible effects of the list on their personal safety.
"The publication of an erroneous list, originating from his office OJ2, of alleged NPA killed by the military is an unforgivable lapse. His negligence only shows a lackadaisical attitude towards his job resulting to confusion and damage to reputation," Lorenzana said in his statement.
"We do not take these offenses lightly and I want to hold the people involved accountable," the defense chief also said.
READ: AFP apologizes for red-tagging UP alumni
Luna was promoted to the post of Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, J2 in October 2020.
A week after the initial list, the military also misquoted a former University of the Philippines lecturer as saying that the "silent majority" in the university supported the abrogation of UP's deal with the defense department.
The former senior lecturer, Michael Eric Castillo, later went on record to say that he had no basis for making such a claim.
“This is unprofessional behavior and politicized men in uniform should never be tolerated. Apology is one thing, but taking action is another. Someone should be held accountable for negligence like this. Bad eggs should never be left unpunished,” said Sen. Francis Pangilinan said then in a statement.
— Franco Luna
University of the Philippines President Danilo Concepcion shoots down allegations by the military of "infiltration" by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples' Army in the university's units.
Concepcion says the university administration had no knowledge of the allegations nor details and circumstances of such claims by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
"We call on the military and police leadership to engage with UP and other universities in a constructive dialogue on the issues involved in these allegations, to dispel their chilling effect and encourage trust and confidence in our uniformed services," Concepcion says in a statement.
UP President Danilo L. Concepcion responds to AFP allegations of “infiltration” of UP units by the CPP-NPA:
— University of the Philippines (@upsystem) January 22, 2021
We in UP take exception to recent claims made by the AFP that some UP colleges, units and offices have knowingly condoned their alleged “infiltration” by the CPP-NPA.
Journalist Atom Araullo files P2 million damages against SMNI hosts former undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy-Partosa and Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz over red-tagging allegations.
Araullo was joined by counsels led by Dean Tony La Viña when he filed the complaint before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the resignation of Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade as spokesman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon files a bill seeking to criminalize red-tagging.
If passed into law, it would make red-tagging punishable by up to 10 years in prison and disqualify those convicted from holding public office. — Phistar.com/Bella Perez-Rubio
Maj. Gen. Alex Luna has been relieved as armed forces deputy chief for intelligence over the publication of an incorrect list of alleged communist rebels, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announces.
Luna's relief from the post, first reported by CNN Philippines, is over social media posts that falsely tagged UP alumni as having been captured and killed after joining the New People's Army.
Lorenzana says the incident was "an unforgivable lapse."
He says Luna's "negligence only shows a lackadaisical attitude towards his job resulting to confusion and damage to reputation."
Military social media page Armed Forces of the Philippines Information Exchange apologizes to people it tagged as University of the Philippines alumni whom they said had been captured or killed after joining the New People's Army.
Some of those named, among them lawyers, held a press briefing over the weekend to condemn their inclusion on the list and to declare that they were neither captured by the military, or, obviously, killed.
"The Office of the J7, AFP is already conducting an internal investigation as to how the list got published. Personnel who are responsible will be held to account," it also says.
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