LT. GENERAL Antonio ‘Jun’ Parlade, Philippine Army area commander for Southern Luzon (Solcom), bared that politicians at the local level continue to give aid and comfort to the Communist Party of the Philippines and its terrorist armed wing, the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), despite their sworn duty to defend the country from its enemies both foreign and domestic.
In a talk with Pinoy Exposé last January 3, 2021, Parlade said that in the Solcom area alone, 2 members of Congress, 3 governors, 5 mayors, 2 vice mayors and several provincial board members have been identified as still aiding the two terrorist groups in their respective localities.
Solcom comprises the Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions in the island of Luzon and where the CPP-NPA continues to maintain a strong presence, having established their “mass bases” there since the early ‘70s.
Although Parlade did not name the local officials, he is letting them know that the government is already aware of their activities as “conspirators” of the Reds whose sole aim for the last 52 years is to bring down the government thru violence and armed force.
Last December 30, 2020, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary, Eduardo M. Año, ordered the filing of administrative and criminal charges against Quezon province fourth district board member, Rhodora ‘Dhoray’ Tan.
The filing of the cases against Tan came after two members of the NPA with standing warrants for their arrest, were nabbed by a combined team from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army her residence in Bgy. Zone 3, Poblacion, Atimonan, last December 26, 2020.
The suspects were identified as, Ruel ‘Baste’ Custodio and, Ruben ‘Oyo Miles’ Istokado, both of legal age.
Incidentally, the day of their arrest, December 26, coincided with the 52nd anniversary of the CPP.
Custodio is allegedly a finance officer of the Sub-Regional Military Area-4 of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC), while Istokado is allegedly a political instructor of L1, KP1 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee.
(In a statement, Quezon province fourth district representative in Congress, Rep. Angelina Tan, clarified she is not a relative of BM Rhodora Tan and commended the police and the military for the arrest of Custodio and Istokado).
Aside from obstruction of justice, BM Tan was also slapped with violating RA 6713 (code of ethical standards for public officials) and “disloyalty to the Republic” under civil service rules.
If found guilty, Tan could face up to six years imprisonment and perpetual disqualification to hold any public office.
Parlade said the filing of cases against Tan should serve as a “wake-up call” to all local officials to stop “conspiring” with the CPP-NPA or face the full force of the law.
He further warned that as most of the CPP-NPA who are the subject of government manhunt have pending arrest warrants for crimes committed, “harboring of criminal” by anyone is also a criminal offense.
Parlade also pointed to the ‘dual character’ of local officials who, while drawing their perks, powers and privileges as government officials, are also discreetly supporting the CPP-NPA thru money, arms, vehicles and safehouses to protect and advance their political careers.
For the longest time now, it is an open secret that in areas where the Reds exercise a degree of influence, candidates for office during elections are paying the NPA for ‘PTCs’ (permit to campaign) and ‘PTWs’ (permit to win), with the local NPA units agreeing to be their temporary armed goons to intimidate their opponents.
(The CPP-NPA termed this as ‘tactical political alliance’ to hide their mercenary nature during elections).
But with the CPP-NPA influence all over the country now waning and their front organizations already exposed, Parlade expressed optimism that by the end of this year’s first semester, the government would regain full control of the national security situation.