Careless na, insensitive pa! Ping scores Parlade for ‘threats’ vs reporter

Not just careless but insensitive, too.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson thus scored Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. for his “threats” against a reporter who the official accused of aiding terrorists.

“(Parlade) keeps opening new fronts for the defense establishment to address which could have been avoided but for his careless and insensitive remarks,” Lacson said in a statement.

He was referring to Parlade’s post on Facebook where he accused Inquirer.net reporter Tere Tupas of biased reporting by basing her reports on “propaganda.”

Lacson pointed out Parlade’s remarks came at a time the Solicitor General is defending the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 against 37 petitions, on issues including the “overbreadth doctrine.”

“Such remarks from a high-ranking military official is uncalled for and totally unnecessary,” Lacson, who sponsored the measure in the Senate and is one of its main authors, pointed out.

Also, Lacson reminded Parlade there are basic freedoms that remain to be protected and upheld under RA 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, foremost is the freedom of speech or expression.

“Accusing a journalist of ‘aiding the terrorists by spreading lies,’ assuming that such comment was accurately attributed to him, surely does not help the government to convince the magistrates of the Supreme Court to rule in its favor,” he said.

“At a time unity is needed against threats such as terrorism, actions that threaten to divide are the last thing our country needs,” he added.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)