#NasaanSiParlade?: Fishers ask where was the SoLCom commander amid the raging storm in the South
Manila, Philippines – “While the progressive organizations, which have been the usual targets of General Parlade’s vilification, are out there on the ground, assessing the damages and assisting the victims of successive typhoons, the commander of the AFP’s southern Luzon Command was missing-in-action. What a shame and a loser for a military commander that he busied himself with his anti-communist obsession while his areas of responsibility were being ravaged by Typhoon Rolly,” According to the militant fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) on Wednesday, lambasting the Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Southern Luzon Command (SoLCom) Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade for his “conspicuous absence” during the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly in the provinces of Southern Luzon.
In a statement, PAMALAKAYA said that the Southern Luzon, including the Bicol region, which were most hit by the recent typhoon, are within Mr. Parlade’s area of responsibility as SoLCom commander.
“Nobody heard from Mr. Parlade’s whereabouts in the midst of a raging storm within his areas of responsibility. Probably he was obsessing himself on how to further advance his lies and ridiculous propaganda against progressive organizations which are working indefatigably to contain the disaster’s damage and rehabilitate the lives of the affected sectors,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
Hicap, former Anakpawis Party-list Representative, which is part of the MAKABAYAN bloc in the House of Representatives, said they are currently conducting “damage-assessment” on coastal communities in Southern Luzon as a preparation to provide relief assistance to the fishing families hit by the typhoon.
Yesterday, PAMALAKAYA members in Cavite assisted the Gabriela Women’s Party-list, with its Representative Arlene Brosas, in providing immediate relief aid to the fisherfolk families who were hit by a fire that broke out in Brgy. Sineguelasan, Bacoor City, Cavite on the evening of November 1 while Typhoon Rolly was ravaging the archipelago.
The Kabataan Party-list led by its Representative Sarah Elago also held their relief distribution in Bacoor City; while the Bayan Muna Party-list led by Representative Carlos Zarate held theirs in San Pedro, Laguna, which is also within the area of responsibility of the SoLCom.
Lastly, PAMALAKAYA slated the Senate hearing on red-tagging yesterday as “ill-timed and reeks insensitivity” to tens of thousands of victims of recent calamities.
“Sure Mr. Parlade can go ahead with his red-tagging spree, we will continue with our humanitarian activities meanwhile,” ended Hicap. ###
