National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. is now the deputy director-general of the National Security Council (NSC).
Parlade's appointment to the NSC was confirmed in a statement Thursday afternoon, Sept. 9 by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
"The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the appointment of Mr. Antonio G. Parlade, Jr. yesterday, September 8, 2021," Roque said.
"Deputy Director-General Parlade faithfully served the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for many years until his retirement from the service. We are therefore confident that his length of fruitful service in the military would immensely contribute in the crafting of plans and policies affecting national security. We wish DDG Parlade well in his new assignment," he added.
President Duterte is known for his penchant of installing retired military men to lofty government posts, saying they are dependable and results-oriented.
Before his appointment, Parlade was the NTF-ELCAC spokesperson for security sector operations.
The first to break the news on Parlade's NSC designation, at least on social media, was his fellow NTF-ELCAC spokesperson in Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy.
"Congratulations Security Undersecretary Antonio Parlade! Thank you Mr President. You got this right! " Badoy wrote on her Facebook at around noon.
She also gave separate confirmation of Parlade's appointment prior to the release of Roque's statement.