Malacañang defended the Armed Forces of the Philippines Thursday after a military officer known to red-tag government critics warned actress Liza Soberano and former Miss Universe Catriona Gray about getting themselves involved with progressive groups.
(OPS / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., spokesman for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), warned Soberano and Gray about their ties with groups like Gabriela.
Parlade cleared Soberano of allegations that she is a communist after she spoke in a forum of Gabriela Youth, saying she is just advocating for women's rights. He added that the actress is not "yet" a member of the New People's Army (NPA).
Roque defended the AFP, saying they did not red-tag neither Soberano nor Gray.
"Naintindihan naman po ng Hukbong Sandatahan na sila po ay nag-a-advocate lang ng karapatan ng kababaihan (The AFP understands that they were just only advocating for women's rights)," he said.
"Pero siyempre ingat din po kasi ‘yung mga Maoist po sa Pilipinas, talaga kung merong puwedeng pagsamantalahan, pagsasamantalahan nila (But, of course, they should be careful because Maoists will take advantage of anyone the can)," he added.
The Palace official said that the government has no problem with anybody speaking against the government but added they are just worried about them being used by Left-leaning groups.
"Ang issue po ‘yung posibleng pagsasamantala ng mga komunista sa mga adbokasiya ng mga personalidad gaya nila Liza at Catriona (The issue here is the possibility that communists may take advantage of the advocacies of personalities like Liza and Catriona)," Roque said.
"Wala po kaming problema doon sa mga sinasabi ni Liza at Catriona (We have no problem with what Liza and Catriona are saying)," he added.
According to Roque, even President Duterte is advocating for women's rights.
"Ang Presidente, sinusulong din po ang karapatan ng mga kababaihan. Malinaw po ang track record niya lalong-lalo na noong siya ay mayor ng Davao City (The President also pushes for women's rights. He has a clear track record especially when he was still the mayor of Davao City)," he said.