Angel Locsin tells military official: Difference in opinion does not give you the right to 'red tag,' endanger lives

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 23) — Actress Angel Locsin on Friday slammed the reckless and dangerous remarks of a military official, vehemently denying allegations her family is part of any communist or terrorist group.

Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr., spokesman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), tagged Locsin's sister Ella Colmenares as a member of the New People's Army. He also said the actress and her uncle, former lawmaker Neri Colmenares, will likely deny it.

"To set the record straight, hindi po ako parte ng NPA or any terrorist group. Neither my sister nor my kuya Neri is a part of the NPA or any terrorist group," she wrote on Instagram. Ella also denied she is in hiding in Quezon, as claimed by Parlade.

The actress criticized Parlade for tagging personalities who speak out against social issues that do not align with his personal opinions.

"Kung magkaiba tayo, hindi ibig sabihin pwede mo na ako i-red tag," she stressed.

[Translation: If we have differing opinions, it doesn't mean you can red-tag me.]

Aside from Locsin's sister, Parlade also warned actress Liza Soberano against keeping ties with Gabriela Youth after the celebrity spoke as a guest in one of its events, saying she is "not yet" an NPA member and that she will "suffer the same fate" as those killed in the crossfire between government troops and communist rebels. He also gave a similar warning to Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, who also champions women's rights.

Locsin appealed to the government to discipline officials who tag critics as communist rebels. She also pointed out that Parlade's agency has been allotted ₱19.13 billion in the proposed 2021 budget, which she said can be used instead to fund other agencies that help the public.

"Nanawagan po ako sa kinauukulan na itama po ang mali na ito. Tigilan na po ang red tagging," she wrote. "The statement made is utterly false and places ordinary citizens like us, those who they swore to protect, in danger."

[Translation: I am calling on the authorities to fix this. End the red tagging.]

Parlade has been called out for accusing politicians and state critics of colluding with the Communist Party of the Philippines, dubbing them as front organizations to recruit comrades in battle.