(UPDATE) Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade said Thursday he resigned from the government's anti-communist task force over a month ago to "ease pressure" on its leaders.
Parlade said he submitted his letter of resignation to President Rodrigo Duterte as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict over a month ago. The President has accepted the resignation according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
"I want to ease the pressure to the NTF ELCAC principals who are being questioned by legislators for designating me inspite my being in the active service. There are so many legal bases justifying my appointment as constitutional but I will not belabor myself with those," Parlade told reporters.
"I am happy that there are now six more civilian NTF spokespersons who shall carry on the fight passionately and with conviction," he said.
Parlade's stint at the anti-communist insurgency task force was marred by controversies after he linked celebrities such as Liza Soberano and Angel Locsin to the movement.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who has questioned Parlade's designation at NTF-ELCAC despite being an active military officer, welcomed the resignation.
He earlier pointed out that Article XVI, Section 5 of the Constitution prohibits active members of the armed forces from being appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the government.
"Whatever legal discussion or debate on his official designation in a civilian office while still in the active military service has now become moot and academic. I am glad it has ended that way," Lacson said. --- with a report from Erwin Colcol