AFP to probe Parlade for ‘threatening’ reporter

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will look into the allegedly threatening remark made by National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spokesman Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade against a journalist who reported about the supposed torture of two Aetas, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday.

Lorenzana said the probe would determine whether Parlade should face disciplinary action.

“We will investigate to find out if he deserves to be punished,” Lorenza said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

He directed newly installed AFP chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana to deal with the issue.

According to Lorenzana, Parlade might have overstepped his boundaries.

“Maybe he overstepped what he was doing. But I’m going to let the AFP chief deal with him. Sila muna ang mag-usap how to address this concern from a journalist and the media,” Lorenzana said.

He said the AFP would be in close contact with Parlade to “prevent this from happening in the future.”

Parlade reiterated that the reported torture of Aetas by the military was not true.

Parlade has received flak from journalists, human rights groups and legislators for branding Inquirer.net reporter Tetch Torres-Tupas as a propagandist of enemies of the government for reporting about the claim of two Aetas of alleged torture and detention by soldiers following the death of a soldier in a clash in Zambales.