NATIONAL Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon seemed working doubly hard on efforts to calm down an angry bunch of senators whom his subordinate categorically called as “stupid.”
In a public briefing, Esperon admitted that he has taken the initiative to approach members of the Senate in view of legislative resolutions condemning the most recent red-tagging perpetrated by the spokespersons of the government’s anti-insurgency task force where he sits as vice-chairman.
Esperon said that he is trying to discuss matters with the senators behind an appeal seeking to censure and fire Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
He particularly hinted at Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who earlier urged him to look at constitutional provisions vis-a-vis Parlade’s appointment, from whom he has been asking for some inputs.
Lacson is among the most vocal members of the upper chamber wanting to see Parlade go in view of laws restricting military men from holding a civilian post.
Other than Lacson, Esperon expressed his wish to discuss matters with Senate President Vicente Sotto and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
These senators have expressed support for the controversial Anti-Terror Act – which led to the crafting of the NTF-ELCAC— but there have been fears among local and international rights groups that this may be abused by officials.
“May ginagawa akong sulat na dapat kahapon ko matatapos pero dahil may bagong development ibibigay ko ‘yon kay Senate president. Dadalhin ko rin yon kay Sen. Bato, dahil hindi siya pumipirma sa call of resignation. May mga kakausapin din akong senador sa sulat tungkol sa subject,” Esperon said.
He, however, would not go into details of the supposed letter.
Several senators earlier pushed to defund NTF-ELCAC for 2022 as Parlade accused some community pantry organizers of being communist supporters.
They also urged Malacañang to remove Parlade from the office after he likened a community pantry organizer’s efforts to “Satan giving apple to Eve.”
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon later released a resolution denouncing Parlade’s remarks, with a mix of opposition and pro-administration senators backing the move. Sotto had also urged the national government to defund NTF-ELCAC anew, if they were not going to remove Parlade from the post.