MANILA, Philippines — Ipinagkibit balikat ng Malacañang at Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang panawagan ni dating NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Ret. Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. na magkaroon ng "revolutionary government" para maayos ang sistema ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) — aniya, huwag na daw itong pansinin.
Aabot kasi sa 100 supporters ang isinama ni Parlade, dating tagapagsalita ng anti-communist task-force ng gobyerno, sa EDSA People Power Monument ngayong Martes bilang suporta kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
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"Retired Gen. Antonio Parlade’s call for a revolutionary government is part of his guaranteed freedom of speech and expression," wika ni acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar kanina.
"However, as Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the retired general’s call is better left ignored."
Andanar: However, as Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the retired general’s call is better left ignored @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews
— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) March 15, 2022
Some social media posts claim Parlade, who was recently cut from the list of presidential aspirants, was declaring a revolutionary government. pic.twitter.com/88pOnZfYdu
— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) March 15, 2022
Una nang inilinaw ni Parlade, na nasa likod ng pag-uugnay sa sari-saring ligal na aktibista at kritiko ng gobyerno bilang "rebeldeng komunista," na hindi sila nagdedeklara ng revolutionary government. Gayunpaman, kung ito lang daw ang solusyon sa mga katiwalian sa Comelec, "so be it" daw.
Kahit ipinipilit ni Parlade na hindi nila itinutulak ang rebolusyonaryong gobyerno, kitang-kita sa mga panawagang dala nila ang mga salitang "We support Duterte, Rev Gov na!"
Dating kumander ng AFP Southern Luzon si Parlade bago nagretiro noong Hulyo.
'Hindi susuportahan ng sandatang lakas'
Inilinaw naman ni AFP spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala na matibay ang loyalty ng 145,000 sundalo, marines, sailors atbp. sa 1987 Constitution at mananatili sa likod ng chain-of-command.
"While the AFP respects the people’s freedom of expression, we do not and will not support extra legal means outside the constitution which we have sworn to protect including the sanctity of the electoral process," sabi niya sa isang pahayag.
"We continuously remind our troops to adhere to the rule of law and always obey the chain of command, whoever is seated as the Commander-in-Chief."
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is firm in its resolve to be loyal to the Constitution and the duly constituted authorities. The 145,000-strong soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines of the AFP stand solid behind the chain-of-command.
— Col Ramon P Zagala (@DemyZagala) March 15, 2022
Mananatili naman daw propesyunal ang sandatahang lakas at "hindi makikisawsaw" sa partisan politics at uunahin ang interes ng bansa bago ang personal na mga pananaw: "It is our responsibility to uphold integrity as we execute our duty to serve the nation," kanyang panapos.
Una nang nagbalak kumandidato sa pagkapangulo sa 2022 si Parlade, ngunit hindi naman ito naisakatuparan. — may mga ulat mula kay Franco Luna at The STAR/Alexis Romero