Parlade says Angel Locsin aware of sister’s Red links, insists he is not red-tagging

MANILA, Philippines — While insisting that he is not red-tagging, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. now claims actress Angel Locsin is “aware” of the alleged involvement of her sister Ella Colmenares in communist activities.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), Parlade, who is also a member of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Insurgency (NTF-ELCAC), was asked about his controversial remark where he warned actress Liza Soberano following her appearance on group Gabriela Youth’s webinar where she took a stand on the issue of violence against women and children.

“The choice is yours, Liza. And so with you Catriona. Don’t follow the path Ka Ella Colmenares (Locsin) took in the underground and NPA Quezon. I am sure Angel Locsin and Neri Colmenares will not tell you this,” Parlade said in the statement.

Confronted about this remark, Parlade told ANC: “Yes, and I am very sure of that because Ella Colmenares, she’s part of the underground and she operated in Quezon especially in Polilio Island.”

“In fact, she (Ella Colmenares) was nominated as the third nominee of the Kabataan Partylist. Unfortunately, they did not get a third seat in 2007 elections so now she’s back in the above grounds,” Parlade said.

“She’s now again doing legal work with Gabriela, recruiting members for Gabriela,” he added.

Parlade then added that Locsin and her uncle Neri Colmenares are aware of Ella’s activities.

“Angel Locsin and Neri Colmenares know this, of course, and they’re not going to tell Liza Soberano or Catriona Gray or kung sino man na mga celebrity diyan. Of course itatago nila itong information na ito,” Parlade said.

“They  (Locsin’s family) showed us a picture of a family dinner. Of course, kasi above ground na ulit si Ella Colmenares,” he added.

Host Karen Davila then asked Parlade is Locsin is aware that her sister, Ella, is involved in “communist activities.”

“Yes, but that’s not red-tagging. That’s just informing the public that a member of an underground organization is also associated with, of course, her sister. That’s not red-tagging,” Parlade said.

Parlade maintains his stand even as Ella has already denied links to communist groups such as the New People’s Army (NPA).

In a post on Twitter on Thursday, Ella said she was not supposed to defend herself but eventually decided to speak up to clarify things as her life and her family may have been placed in danger by being red-tagged.

“I do not have to defend myself as I have not done anything wrong but I decided to speak up, not just for myself but also for my children, whose lives may have been endangered because of this reckless red-tagging being broadcasted on social media,” Ella Colmenares said in her statement.

“Yes, I believe in the protection of women’s rights and human rights, the same advocacies that Angel and Neri fight for, but so do millions of Filipinos across the country.  That doesn’t mean that I’m a member of the NPA as what is being claimed,” she added.

Meanwhile, in a cryptic story posted by Locsin on Instagram, she greeted their younger brother who is celebrating his birthday on Thursday, while noting that her sister — Ella — whom Parlade said went underground, is with them.

/MUF