FOLLOWING the threat of lawmakers to defund the agency for alleged red-tagging activities, the National Security Adviser on Sunday appealed to Congress and the public to consider the importance of the Barangay Development Program (BDP). He noted that 525 out of 822 barangays cleared of New People’s Army (NPA) threat and influence are now ready to enjoy the fruits of their areas’ socioeconomic development.
At the same time, NTF-Elcac Vice Chairman and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon issued a gag order on two controversial officials of the task force: its spokesman Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade and Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, whose remar+ks have drawn lawmakers’ ire.
These 525 barangays have already endorsed their program and projects to the DBM.
After thorough verification of the proposals at the national level, he said the BDP package of 483 barangays have already been approved with P9.66 billion ready for release.
Esperon clarified that this amount will not be released in cash but in the form of projects, as proposed, to the local government units of the identified barangay recipients.
The interagency task force is suffering collateral damage from the apparent penchant of some officials, mainly its spokesman Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, to issue reckless remarks, the latest being his use of the word “stupid” to describe senators if they insist on defunding NTF-Elcac.
The senators had made the defunding threat after Parlade said they were checking the backgrounds of organizers of community pantries, volunteer-driven initiatives by ordinary individuals to offer basic goods to people hit hard by the pandemic, while encouraging donations as well.
Parlade said the pantries were obviously communist-inspired, a remark that coincided with reports that certain people, including “policemen” were making the rounds of the community pantries to ask for the personal details of organizers.
The red-tagging of the pantries drew quick, widespread condemnation even from government officials. The Department of Justice, Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Anti-Red Tape Authority, and the National Privacy Commission said the pantries fill an urgent need that government alone cannot provide when many people are jobless and hungry, and should be left alone.
Censure for Parlade
Parlade Jr. faces censure proceedings at the Senate for calling senators “stupid” in moving to realign the anti-insurgency fund to the Covid response.
“It is only now that I heard an officer of the Armed Forces saying senators are stupid,” Senate Minority Leader Frank Drilon said over DWIZ on Saturday, lamenting, “that is very disrespectful and uncalled for.”
Drilon confirmed to DWIZ that he would move to censure Parlade over his remarks by introducing the resolution to be taken up in plenary.
Several senators last week renewed their call to oust Parlade. Senate President Vicente Sotto III said firing Parlade was the right solution, not defunding the NTF-Elcac, adding that doing so would negate government’s gains in counterinsurgency.
The Senate Minority Leader, meanwhile, recalled to DWIZ that during the May 22 interview, Parlade was quoted to have said: “I will tell you, sila ang stupid kung ito ay binabawi nila. Pinirmahan nila ‘yung batas na ‘yan para maging serbisyo, ipagpatuloy ang programa ng gobyerno. Ngayon sasabihin nila na ide-defund nila ‘yung NTF-Elcac [They are stupid if they are taking back the funds. They passed that law so government can continue its service. Now they say they will defund it].”
Drilon said “such a display of arrogance beneath contempt should be censured.”
While “differences on several issues between the Senate and the Executive cannot be avoided,” Drilon said, “one should not go down to the level such as calling the duly-elected representatives of the people stupid.”
Drilon defended the call made by senators, including himself, to realign the P19 billion anti-insurgency to much-needed social amelioration programs or ayuda as millions of households remain in dire straits with the reimposition of lockdowns as Covid-19 cases started to surge starting March.
He recalled that just last March 10, the Senate adopted the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Defense to remove Parlade as spokesman of the NTF-Elcac, as his appointment violates the Constitution.
The senator cited Article 16, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution, that “No member of the Armed Forces in the active service shall, at any time, be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations or any of their subsidiaries.”
Grateful to Congress
Esperon, meanwhile, said the NTF-Elcac was grateful to Congress’ support for the counter-insurgency when it provided P16.44 billion funds for BDP under the General Appropriations Act of 2021.
“Allow me to reassure the public that the package of programs under the BDP are released following the stringent evaluation of the government agencies concerned,” he added.
“As the Vice Chairman of the NTF-Elcac, I take cognizance of the pronouncements not jut of our good Senators and honorable Representatives in Congress but also of the calls of the general public elsewhere on the BDP. I note that these voices come from a place of deep concern over the utilization of its funds under the GAA,” Esperon said.
Because the system is pork barrel-proof, Esperon pointed out that the officers and members of the NTF-Elcac have nothing to gain from the BDP. He was reacting to claims that the P16.44 billion is the generals’ pork barrel.
Esperon said the P16.44 billion is being utilized to bring sustainable grassroots development and empowerment to communities susceptible to recruitment by communist rebels.
The BDP is a flagship progject of the Duterte administration. About 822 barangays that were freed from CPP-NPA control will each be given at least P20 million worth of different projects. In accordance with the DBM Local Budget Circular 135 and 135-A, the breakdown is P12 million for farm-to-market road; P3 million for school classrooms; P2 million for water sanitation; P1.5 million for health station and P1.5 million for livelihood projects.