A human rights advocacy group has asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to withhold the commission’s clearance to retired Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Parlade Jr. who was the spokesperson for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Karapatan told the CHR that Parlade dos not deserve a "graceful exit" because of his "rabid red-tagging" activities.

It pointed out that Page 11 of the CHR’s “Citizen’s Handbook” states that the CHR "issues clearance only after thorough data check and verification of records to military/police officers, security sector, government employees and private citizens to certify that the client has: no record of human rights violations, with record of human rights violation or with pending resolution of human rights violation."

However, the CHR said its clearance procedure has not been included as a "mandatory requirement" by the security sector for retirement purposes.

CHR Deputy Spokesperson Marc Louis Siapno explained that the clearance processes within the CHR are primarily for purposes of training, schooling, or deployment overseas with international partners, as well as for promotions and confirmation within the armed services.

Despite this limitation, Siapno said it does not mean that the CHR does not take reports of human rights violations very seriously.

"We assure concerned groups that as best we can, we shall take appropriate action in accordance with our mandate on the basis of all relevant information available to us under the circumstances," he said.

He noted that the CHR has been constantly urging the government to be "proactive" in ensuring that allegations of human rights violations committed by its agents, such as the police and military, are thoroughly investigated.

Should anyone be found liable, he said the CHR demands that their accountabilities must be determined in the interest of justice and for the protection of human rights at all times.

"For this purpose, we encourage expansion of the clearance procedure to cover areas that will ensure compliance with the highest human rights standards for all duty-bearers," he also said.