Duterte accepts Parlade's resignation as NTF-ELCAC spokesman
President Duterte has accepted the resignation of controversial anti-communist insurgency task force spokesman Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Parlade himself announced that he has resigned as spokesman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
In his press briefing on Thursday, July 1, Roque confirmed that Parlade's resignation has been accepted.
"Tinanggap po ang resignation ni (President Duterte has accepted the resignation of) Gen. Parlade as spokesperson of NTF-ELCAC," he said.
That's what I was able to confirm from Secretary Lorenzana," he added.
According to Parlade, he submitted his resignation to Duterte almost a month ago because he wanted to "ease the pressure (on) the NTF-ELCAC which is being questioned by legislators" for designating him as spokesman while he was in active service.
Parlade, a military official known for his repeated red-tagging of government critics, served as the spokesman of the NTF-ELCAC, a task force created to stamp out the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
In April this year, Roque said Parlade's appointment as NTF-ELCAC spokesman was actually a subject for debate because the military is part of the NTF-ELCAC.
Questions about Parlade's appointment came after red-tagging community pantry organizers, especially when he 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 had left the decision to the NTF-ELCAC if Parlade should be sacked from his post over his controversial remarks, saying that President Duterte “does not micromanage.”