The Senate will pursue a review of the budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) despite the gag order on Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade, Jr. and Lorraine Badoy—who are spokespersons for the agency.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian made this assurance even after welcoming the gag order issued by National Security Adviser Hermgenes Esperon, Jr. against Parlade and Badoy.

“Kahit na ganitong may gag order, pagpapatuloy pa rin natin ang pagtitingin sa budget na ito at ipagpatuloy ko pa rin po an gaming mungkahi na i-defund ang ahensiyang ito (Even though there is already a gag order, we will still continue to review their budget and we will continue to pursue to defund this agency),” Gatchalian said in an interview over Radio DZBB.

Gatchalian pointed out the senators have already lost their trust in General Parlade.

“Hindi maliit na pondo ang ibinigay natin. Hindi milyon, kundi bilyon, ang ibinigay natin dito. At inaasahan natin na ang mga namumuno diyan katulad ni General Parlade ay gagastusin ng maayos at hindi gagamitin sa pang ha-harass (We didn’t give them a measly fund. It’s not just in millions, but billions, were given to them. and we expect that those who are leading the agency like Parlade will use the funds properly and will not use it to harass people),” the senator pointed out.

“Hindi gagamitin sa pang-aapi ang pondo na ibinigay sa kanila dahil ang malaking pondo nay an pwede mong gamitin sa masamang paraan at hindi ho iyan ang intension ng mga senador sa pagbibigay po ng pondo na gagamitin nila (They’re not allowed to use the funds appropriated to them to harass and or use it to oppress. That is not the intention of senators when we gave them the funds),” he stressed.

Gatchalian, who was among the senators who called for a review of the NTF-ELCAC, said he also believes that removing Parlade as head of the agency would enable the agency to function according to their mandate.

Because the senator said he believes Parlade is the primary figure who decides where and how the agency’s P19-billion funds should be used.

“Tingin ko hindi lang siya spokesperson, dahil ang spokesperson mahalagang posisyon yan. Dala-dala mo ang imahe at boses ng ahensya

“Kung ganun ang lumalabas sa kanyang bibig, ganun din po siya nangugusap sa loob ng ahensyang yun. kaya kung ganyan po ang pag iisip ng ahensya, paano tao magtitiwala na gagamitin nang maayos ang pondo (If that’s how he speaks, that’s also how he speaks within the agency. That’s why if that’s how the agency thinks, how can we trust that they will use the funds correctly?),” he pointed out.

“Kung siya ay mawawala, malaking positibong galaw ito para sa ahensya at maibabalik ng ahensya ang kanilang imahe, ang kanilang intensyon na labanan ang insurgency sa bansa pero hindi pa rin po ibig sabihin na hindi pa rin bubusisiin ang pondong 'yun at kung may makitang hindi maayos sa pagdedesisyon ay pwedeng ire-align o tanggalin po ang pondo sa ahensya (If he is removed, it’s going to be a positive change for the agency and it can restore its damaged image and their original intention to fight insurgency in the country, but it doesn’t mean that we will give up looking into their funds ),” he said.

“In simple terms, tuloy pa rin po ang pagbusisi ng pondo pero para sa akin malaking hakbang na nalilinis at naaayos muli ang imahe ng ahensya (we will still review their funds, which I think is a big move to cleanse and fix the agency’s purpose),” he emphasized.