Parlade may have basis for linking NUPL with Reds

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 15, 2019): Parlade may have basis for linking NUPL with Reds

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has “basis” in accusing human rights organizations such as the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) of links with the Leftist movement, Malacañang said Monday.

“If a military man says that, they may have basis for saying what they’re saying,”Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in an interview.

Panelo defended the military after a group of human rights lawyers sought protection from the Supreme Court from alleged harassment and "red-tagging" of their members by state forces including the military and President Rodrigo Duterte.

Panelo, however, said the Palace will not interfere with the high court’s decision.

”We will not interfere with the function of the judiciary. It’s a free country, they can file (whatever they want),” Panelo said.

He noted that the NUPL has the right to make any kind of petition before the high court.

“Just the same, they have the right to question whatever they want to raise before the court and let us wait for the court to decide,” he added.

The NUPL on Monday filed a petition for writ of amparao and writ of habeas data before the Supreme Court to ask for the protection from “harassment, intimidation, and violence committed against them by State forces and their agents.”

Their petition came after AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, Major Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., one of the respondents in the petition, accused NUPL among other organizations like Karapatan as having links with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The petitioners are led by NUPL chairman and senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares and NUPL President Edre Olalia together with Catherine Salucon, vice president; Ian Anthony Sapayan, vice president for NUPL-Visayas; Ephraim Cortez, secretary-general; Edgar Carmona, auditor; and Bayan Muna Partylist Carlos Isagani Zarate.

Aside from the President and Parlade, other respondents in the petition were National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana; Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr.; AFP Deputy Commander for Intelligence, Brig. Gen. Fernando Trinidad; AFP Chief of the Intelligence Service, Major Gen. Erwin Bernard Neri; and Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto.

A writ of amparo can be filed when any person whose right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity.

On the other hand, a writ of habeas data protects a person’s right to control information especially when the information against the person was illegally obtained.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1067414