PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a former spokesperson of the government’s anti-communist task force as deputy director-general of the National Security Council.

Malacañang confirmed that Duterte signed the appointment of newly retired general Antonio Parlade Jr. on Thursday, September 8, 2021.

Parlade was a former spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).

He retired from military service on July 26, 2021. His last position was commander of the AFP Southern Luzon chief.

Parlade “faithfully served the Armed Forces of the Philippines for many years until his retirement from the service,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.

“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,” he added.

Parlade was known to link students, activists and community pantry organizers to the communist movement and its armed wing, New People’s Army. (SunStar Philippines from PR)