Pangsinan mayor hits ‘black propaganda’

By Mar T Supnad

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan -Mayor Amadeo Perez has expressed dismay on the unauthorized use of his video footage in one of the television ads of gubernatorial candidate Rep. Victor Agbayani.

Perez said over Sunshine Radio and Aksyon Radyo he was not endorsing any gubernatorial candidate except reelectionist Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.

Instead, Perez said that he has authorized Espino to use his voice clip and video footage taken during the LGU Night last Dec. 15, 2009 which is now being aired over radio stations and TV networks.

The black propaganda, he said, is character assassination on his part as the Agbayani camp obviously has ran out of issue thus resulted to dirty tactics like what they did.

“Wala akong ini-endorse kundi si Gov. Espino. Sa totoo lang noong nakaraang eleksyon noong 2007i kinampanya ko si Gov. Espino at ibinoto ko,” Perez said as he added that the video footage used by the Agbayani camp was taken six to seven years ago and was shown without his authority.”

He said his endorsement for Espino was done voluntarily and wholeheartedly. “Binigay ko ang pahintulot kay Governor sa pag-air ng mga sinabi ko last Christmas Party para sa mga local officials ng galing sa puso sapagkat napakaganda ng mga nagawa niya sa mahigit dalawang taon lamang ng paninilbihan niya hindi lamang sa Urdaneta kundi sa buong lalawigan ng Pangasinan,” Perez said.

In radio interviews, Perez said he cannot recall endorsing Agbayani even during his term as the governor. “Kung meron man siyang katiting na nagawa dito sa Urdaneta noong araw,karapat-dapat lamang na purihin ko siya noong panahong iyon,” he cited as he dubbed the political tactics of Agbayani as “monobloc mentality and cemented mentality.”

“Iba na ang panahon ngayon at kung ihahambing ang nagawa niya (Agbayani) at nagawa ni Gov. Espino ay langit at lupa ang diperensiya,” said Perez.

Perez is contemplating on filing a libel case against the handlers of Agbayani.

“Kahit hindi ko kasama sa partido si Congressman Agbayani, I have high regard for him. Pero itong nangyaring ito’y akala ko he was a gentleman pero hindi pala. Ito’ng ginawa nila is foul and it’s a black propaganda,” Perez added