Malacañang urged those who want Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. out of the government's anti-communist task force to file a quo warranto petition if they are confident that Parlade is not qualified to speak for the body.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement following questions about Parlade's role as spokesman for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) since the law does not allow military officials to occupy civilian posts.
In a virtual presser on Friday, Roque said the issue was actually a subject for debate because the military is part of the NTF-ELCAC.
"Kasama rin po ang militar doon sa ELCAC. So pupwedeng nagsasalita po siya bilang tagapagsalita rin ng militar na represented po doon sa ELCAC (The military is part of the NTF-ELCAC. So he may be speaking for the military that is represented in the NTF-ELCAC)," he said.
However, Roque said if anyone was certain that Parlade cannot occupy the said post, they should file a quo warranto petition.
"Kung meron mga talagang sigurado sa kanilang legal position, eh magsampa po sila ng quo warranto dahil 'yan naman po ang remedyo (If someone is sure of their legal position, then they should file a quo warranto petition because that is the remedy)," he said.
"Sa ngayon po, iniiwan na namin sa ELCAC mismo (For now, we leave it to the NTF-ELCAC)," he added.
Meanwhile, Roque reiterated that Parlade, along with Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, also a spokesperson for the NTF-ELCAC, were already issued a gag order.
Parlade and Badoy became controversial anew following their reported red-tagging of community pantry organizers, especially when the former likened Ana Patricia Non, the organizer of the Maginhawa Community Pantry, to Satan.
Lawmakers mulled defunding the agency over the remarks of its members that sow fear on the organizers of the different community pantries. However, Roque said that slashing their budget was not justified.
Malacañang left the decision to the NTF-ELCAC if Parlade should be sacked from his post over his controversial remarks on community pantries and senators, saying that President Duterte “does not micromanage.”