AFP official warns Liza Soberano against keeping ties with Gabriela Youth

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21) - A military official, known to tag government critics as communist rebels, has warned actress Liza Soberano against working further with left-leaning Gabriela Youth after the celebrity spoke as a guest in one of its events.

"Liza Soberano, there's still a chance to abdicate the group," said Lt.. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., adding that she could suffer the same fate as Josephine Lapira, a Gabriela Youth member who died from an encounter with armed authorities three years ago.

Parlade is the commander of the Southern Luzon Command of the Philippine Army and currently spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

He gave the same warning to Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray while red-tagging the sister of actress Angel Locsin, Ella Colmenares. He alleged that Locsin's sibling is working with the New People's Army in Quezon.

Gray, meanwhile, has been vocal against the government in some issues including the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the shutdown of the ABS-CBN network.

"The choice is yours Liza, and so with you Catriona," he added. "Don't follow the path Ka Ella Colmenares took in the underground."

Soberano, in an online event with Gabriela Youth, encouraged women and influencers to be vocal about different issues but her speech was met by some accusations of involvement with the NPA.

Parlade told the public not to red-tag but instead "educate" Soberano. He has been known for accusing politicians of colluding with the Communist Party of the Philippines. He also claimed that progressive groups were plotting to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte in a plan known as "Red October" back in 2018.

Gabriela Youth slammed the soldier for "degrading" its late member Lapira, whom they refer to as a "martyr."

"They (Armed Forces) continuously make use of 'red-tagging' to silence everybody, with or without organization, who speak out against Duterte regime's tyrannical rule," the group said on Facebook.