Military dares militants to debate on live TV

THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines on Sunday hit back at militant groups under the Makabayan bloc, daring them to a television debate over the latter’s supposed links to communist rebels.

Maj. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., the military’s deputy chief of staff for civil-military operations, was responding to pronouncements of Senate candidate Neri Colmenares and of Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate, accusing the military of “setting up” attacks against their group and the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), think tank IBON Foundation, Gabriela women’s group, rights group Karapatan and labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno.