Presidenial candidates Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso decried what they claim are “smear campaigns” hurled against them at the start of the 2022 election season.
Columnist and TV talk show host Cito Beltran, who interviewed Lacson Thursday morning, said he was “approached by a PR operator to conduct black propaganda” against Lacson.
Beltran said he refused the offer and demanded to see the evidence. In the interview with Beltran, Lacson “confirmed” the black propaganda against him.
Earlier, Partido Reporma spokesperson Ashley Acedillo claimed that “dirty tricks” are being used against Lacson’s 2022 presidential bid, including fake news circulating on social media that Lacson had withdrawn or is withdrawing from the race, as well as “a rigged mobile presidentiable ‘text’ survey” that excluded Lacson’s name from the list of choices.
Lacson recalled that since 2001, he had been at the receiving end of black propaganda from the Arroyo administration. He said he was forced to file libel charges against the parties involved to protect his dignity.
In 2017, former Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines head Victor Corpus apologized to Lacson for linking him to illegal activities.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer also issued an apology for publishing opinion items containing the fake news in 2019. The Supreme Court had also junked with finality the cases against Lacson.
Meanwhile, Domagoso brushed aside allegations linking him to the New People’s Army (NPA).
Moreno said a photo of him with Communist Party of the Philippines chair Jose Ma. Sison has been circulating online which he claims is being used to make netizens believe he is a “coddler” of the NPA. “To the trolls who said I am an NPA, I am not an NPA,” he said.
According to Domagoso, he was “lucky that President Duterte appointed him to participate in the peace talks between the NPA and government.
“Dahil ho siya, inaalagaan niya yung mga NPA nung araw sa Davao. May relasyon si Presidente sa NPA (He took care of the NPA in Davao back then. The President has a relationship with the NPA)” he said.
Former Vice President and broadcaster Noli de Castro meanwhile took an oath as the latest addition to the senatorial slate of Aksyon Demokratiko. Domagoso said De Castro’s inclusion in the party is “a big boost.”