[ad_1]
Liza Soberano (left) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of the Luzon Southern Command, Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. (right)
MANILA, Philippines – Kapamilya actress Liza Soberano is unafraid of Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr.’s statement about her participation in an online seminar organized by left-leaning Gabriela Youth, and will continue to exercise her right to freedom of expression “Without fear or restraint from anyone,” his attorney said Friday.
“Liza is not afraid of this statement from General Parlade. Although I must say that we take note of the general’s advice, unsolicited as it may seem, ”said Soberano’s legal advisor, Atty. Juanito Lim Jr. said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
“However, please note that Ms. Soberano will continue to exercise her constitutionally protected right to freedom of expression without fear or restriction from anyone. I think I have to make that very clear right now, ”Lim added.
Parlade recently issued a statement about Soberano’s participation in an online seminar organized by Gabriela Youth, where she urged critics of the actress to stop labeling her in red because she is “not yet” part of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the communist. Philippines party.
Parlade is the head of the Luzon Southern Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
However, critics perceived her statement as not a mere defense of Sovereign, as she also appeared to have issued a veiled warning to the actress that she will “suffer the same fate” as Josephine Anne Lapira if she does not “abdicate” from the group. .
Lapira, 22, was a student at the University of the Philippines-Manila who was killed in November 2017 in what the army reported as an encounter in Batangas province between government forces and NPA rebels.
But despite this, Lim said he has no fear in Sovereign from the military officer’s comments.
“To be honest, I don’t feel any fear in Liza on this matter. Because to begin with, there is nothing to fear. Our client has not committed any crime. What he did was simply express his opinions. That’s. There is nothing to fear, ”he said.
Regarding the harm other groups fear red-labeled people may suffer, Lim said: “It could be a possibility, but not in our case.”
“As any civilian would feel, being labeled red could cause some kind of chilling effect, but going to this particular situation, we feel like there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to Liza because, as we’ve said before, she hasn’t committed no crime, “he added.
He even said that Parlade’s statement was only his opinion and that the military general even “cleared the name” of the actress.
“That’s General Parlade’s opinion, but if you look at General Parlade’s statement, it also deletes our client’s name, and I thank him for that because that’s a fact. Liza is not a member of Gabriela Youth nor is she a member of left-wing learning or cause-oriented organizations. Liza is still apolitical, ”Lim said.
“As a lawyer, I am trained to see things as they are objectively speaking. General Parlade’s statement is advice, a reminder, unsolicited as it may seem. However, I do not think it is necessary to fear or fear the statement of the good general. Again, we have not made any mistakes. Liza has not made any mistakes in expressing her opinions, ”he added.
EDV
Read next
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download from 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For comments, complaints or inquiries, please contact us.
[ad_2]
