DISMAYADO si Sen. Panfilo Ping Lacson sa desisyon ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) na manatili si Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade bilang tagapagsalita ng task force.
Kahapon ay inanunsyo ni NTF-ELCAC Vice Chair Hermogenes Esperon ang pagkakaroon ng walong tagapagsalita ng taskforce kasama ang naturang heneral.
Giit ni Lacson, sa ilalim ng saligang batas hindi maaaring magkaroon ng civilian post ang isang aktibong militar opisyal.
(BASAHIN: Pagpapatalsik kay Gen. Parlade sa NTF ELCAC, inirekomenda ng Senado)
Matapos aniyang napili ng NTF-ELCAC na hindi sundin ang batas ay nagbanta ang senador sa mga ito na tila hindi na nito dedepensahan ang pondo ng NTF ELCAC.
“Since the time the NTF-ELCAC was created, being the principal sponsor of their annual budget I have been their most reliable ally in the Senate – until now,” pahayag ni Lacson.
“That said, there’s no point discussing, much less arguing with people who refuse to listen to reason and adhere to the rule of law. All I can say is, they made their choice, and it will cost them,” dagdag ng senador.
Nanindigan naman si Esperon wala silang nilalabag na kautusan hinggil sa posisyon ni Lt. Gen. Parlade sa Task Force.
Samantala, kinuwestyon naman ni Minority Leader Franklin Drilon ang pagkakaroon ng walong tagapagsalita ang taskforce.
Aniya ito ang unang pagkakataon na makakarinig ito na magkakaroon ng walong mouthpiece ang isang taskforce.
“This is the first time I am hearing of a mere task force with 8 spokespersons. Is it a judicious use of funds? It only reinforces the fear that NTF-ELCAC is a propaganda,” pahayag ni Drilon.
Maliban kay Parlade ay nanatiling tagapagsalita rin ng taskforce si PCOO Usec. Lorraine Badoy na nakatalaga sa Social Media Affairs, Sectoral Concerns.
Dumagdag naman sa kanila ay sila DILG Usec. Jonathan Malaya, Usec. Severo C. Caturan mula sa Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat na itinatalaga para maging spokesperson sa International Affairs, Peace Process, Human Rights Concerns.
Kabilang din si Usec. Jose Joel Sy Egco ng Office of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security Secretariat , si Asec. Celine Pialago ng MMDA, Atty. Marlon Bosantog mula sa National Commission on Indigenous Peoples at Gayedelle Florendo – Assistant Spokesperson on NTF-ELCAC Public Affairs and on Indigenous Peoples Concerns.