Baguio rep laments use of ‘black propaganda’

BAGUIO CITY – Re-electionist congressman Nicasio M. Aliping Jr. lamented the use of “black propaganda this early in the campaign period by his opponents.”

Calling recent posts on social media and local newspapers as a mere rehash of an old issue, Aliping said the trend of destroying the personality of an opponent is now becoming alarming in Baguio. “What is being used against me are stories which are one year old already. So much has happened since then” Aliping said in a press release sent to the Northern Philippine Times.

Rep. Aliping was referring to a news article spread by one of his rivals for the congressional seat of Baguio detailing how the Court of Appeals has junked a motion for reconsideration on its Permanent Environmental Protection Order over Mt. Sto. Tomas.

“I am already following the CA order by not continuing with improvements on my property at Mt. Kabuyao! What else do they want me to do?,” Aliping added.

“I dare my opponents to raise the level of the political campaign from mudslinging to actual program of government. This way, the Baguio voters will be able to make an intelligent decision,” he said.

Aliping believes that his rivals can only result to attacking his character rather than engage him in intelligent campaigning because they cannot attack his accomplishments as a first term congressman. In the first two and a half years in Congress, Aliping has already surpassed the achievements of his predecessors.

In two years, Aliping was able to make improvements at the Baguio Athletic Bowl which previous administrations have failed to upgrade. Recently, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported that the budget for Baguio is over P900 million, approximately three times the budget of the agency when he assumed office in 2013.

Aside from these, Aliping has been named in the top performing lawmaker in Congress placing fourth from a field of 286 members of the House of Representatives. He achieved this distinction for being active in all the House committees he is a member in as well as for the number of bills he filed or co-authored in the last two and a half years.